Late June Golf Injury Report: Alison Lee Battles Through Pain as Steve Stricker Makes Emotional Return

The grueling summer stretch of professional golf tests not just swing mechanics, but the sheer physical endurance of the world's best players. As the 2026 season heads into its peak major championship window, a wave of injury updates across the LPGA Tour, PGA Tour, and PGA Tour Champions has highlighted the incredible resilience required to compete at the highest level.

At the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Hazeltine National, Alison Lee delivered a masterclass in grit. The South Korean-American star entered the 2026 season after seriously contemplating retirement, but found herself back on the biggest stage and in contention during the third round despite battling a painful neck injury.

"I feel like my game is in a really good place. I'm not going to lie; before the round, I had a little bit of a kink in my neck, so I had to take a lot of Advil before the round," Lee shared after her round. Despite the discomfort, she managed to shoot a 4-under 68, navigating the demanding Hazeltine layout with precision.

Lee admitted that the pain became particularly acute down the stretch, preventing her from fully completing her swing finish on the final few holes. She attributed the flare-up to the physical toll of playing four consecutive weeks on the LPGA schedule, a grueling run that included the U.S. Women's Open and the Dow Championship. Her ability to push through the pain and remain on the leaderboard stands as a testament to her renewed competitive fire.

Meanwhile, on the PGA Tour Champions, the story of the month has been the emotional and triumphant return of Steve Stricker. The Wisconsin native and Ryder Cup captain made his long-awaited comeback at the American Family Insurance Championship—a tournament he hosts—at TPC Wisconsin.[1][2]

Stricker had been sidelined for over a year following a complex recovery process. After undergoing hip replacement surgery in January, his rehabilitation was severely derailed when he tore a muscle on the outside of the same hip. The setback tested his patience, but Stricker remained determined to make his return in front of his hometown crowd.[2]

"I'm itching to get back out there for sure," Stricker said ahead of the event. "The process has been a lot longer than I thought... but I'm looking forward to getting back out there." His return was a true family affair; he played alongside his brother-in-law, Mario, while his daughter, Bobby, carried his bag for the weekend, making the milestone even sweeter.[1][2]

While veterans like Stricker battle back to the course, other players are making the difficult decision to step away and prioritize their long-term health. English PGA Tour rookie Marco Penge recently announced an indefinite break from professional golf after withdrawing from the U.S. Open and the Myrtle Beach Classic.[5]

Penge, who earned his PGA Tour card after a stellar three-win season on the DP World Tour in 2025, has been battling severe ear, neck, and nervous system issues—including vertigo and sinus infections—since contracting a viral illness last November. After missing the cut at the PGA Championship, Penge decided that "enough was enough" and sought comprehensive medical testing.[3]

In a positive update for his supporters, Penge revealed that an MRI scan on his brain, head, and neck came back clear. "Thankfully, the images were great, and so a few of the doubts I have had have gone away, which is a big relief," he shared on social media. Penge will retain his PGA Tour status through 2026 as he focuses entirely on getting fully fit.[3][5]

In the background of these weekly tour updates remains the ongoing rehabilitation of Tiger Woods. Having turned 50 in late 2025, Woods continues to recover from an October disc replacement surgery. While he currently has no set timetable for a PGA Tour return, he recently noted that he has progressed to hitting full shots, though "not well every day."[4]

Woods' entry into his 50s has also opened the door to the PGA Tour Champions. While he has historically opposed the use of golf carts in standard PGA Tour events, he acknowledged that the Champions Tour rules might offer a pragmatic path forward for his fused and surgically repaired back, keeping the golf world hopeful for his next chapter.[4]

From Alison Lee's gritty major championship push to Steve Stricker's joyful hometown return and Marco Penge's mature health pivot, the late June injury landscape underscores a vital truth about professional golf. Behind every pristine drive and hoisted trophy is a grueling, unseen battle of physical maintenance, resilience, and recovery.