When Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im top the field at a major professional event, you can tell something’s unusual. The Genesis Championship begins Thursday in South Korea, but this year’s lineup looks thin for what’s usually the DP World Tour’s marquee regular-season finale. Three key absences have changed everything about the week’s competitive landscape.

Three of Europe’s top stars—Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, and Matt Fitzpatrick—won’t be teeing it up at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club. Their collective absence leaves the $4 million event without its biggest drawing cards. Only two players ranked inside the world’s top 50 made the trip to Cheonan. That’s Hideki Matsuyama at No. 18 and Sungjae Im at No. 36.

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Tommy Fleetwood opts for rest after India triumph

Fleetwood sits fifth in the world rankings after a career-defining 2025 season. The Englishman captured his first PGA Tour victory at the Tour Championship, becoming the FedExCup champion in August. He followed that with Ryder Cup heroics at Bethpage Black, earning 4 points in Europe’s victory.

Just last week, Fleetwood secured the DP World India Championship with a commanding 22-under performance. He closed with a 7-under 65 to beat Keita Nakajima by two shots. The victory moved him from 94th to 25th in the Race to Dubai standings.

But the tournament serves as the final event on the DP World Tour’s regular schedule before the playoffs. Fleetwood chose rest over back-to-back competition. After an exceptional season featuring FedExCup glory, Ryder Cup success, and the India win, he’s preserving energy for the Abu Dhabi and Dubai Play-Offs.

Rory McIlroy takes selective scheduling to new heights

McIlroy wrapped up his latest DP World Tour appearance at the India Championship, finishing T15 in mid-October. Yet he’s opted not to travel to South Korea for the Genesis Championship.

The Northern Irishman has been open about trimming his schedule. At 35, he’s protecting his body for the long haul, carefully balancing PGA Tour signature events with select DP World Tour appearances. Last season, he played around 22 events across both tours.

Despite consistent excellence, McIlroy’s major drought has stretched to 11 years. He still won twice on the PGA Tour last season and claimed his sixth Race to Dubai title. But increasingly, he’s choosy about where he competes. For him, the Genesis Championship simply doesn’t fit his current priorities.

Health and form remain top of mind for elite players, a concern that has put Xander Schauffele in the spotlight this week.

Matt Fitzpatrick focuses on season-ending events

Fitzpatrick ranks 28th in the world after a solid 2025 campaign. The 2022 U.S. Open champion delivered two top-10 major finishes this year. He tied for fourth at The Open and eighth at the PGA Championship. His ball-striking remained world-class throughout the season.

The Englishman also shone in links golf conditions. He finished T4 at the Genesis Scottish Open before his strong Open Championship showing. His DP World Tour form stayed consistent with top-10 finishes at the BMW PGA Championship and the Omega European Masters.

But Fitzpatrick has been selective about his October schedule. After playing four consecutive weeks through the India Championship, he chose rest over the Asian swing. Ranked 15th in the Race to Dubai with 1,769.95 points, he’s already secured his spot in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. He’s preserving sharpness for those lucrative Play-Offs rather than risking burnout in South Korea.

The field’s composition reveals a harsh reality for the Genesis Championship. Beyond Matsuyama and Im, the tournament struggles to attract golf’s elite. Other top DP World Tour players like Shane Lowry and Tyrrell Hatton are also absent.  LIV Golf stars such as Bryson DeChambeau (No. 23) and Jon Rahm are also missing due to league commitments and ongoing DP World Tour disputes.

Byeong Hun An returns to defend his title alongside veterans Adam Scott and Si Woo Kim. For many, the Race to Dubai standings still make the week meaningful, with top-70 placement crucial for retaining tour cards and privileges.

Yet the absence of Scheffler, McIlroy, and Schauffele underscores a growing divide. Top American players increasingly view the DP World Tour’s Asian swing as optional, and the Genesis Championship feels that impact most sharply.