The fifth-ranked player in the Official World Golf Rankings Justin Thomas has officially withdrawn from the 2019 PGA Championship. The 2017 PGA Championship winner has cited an ongoing wrist injury as the reason for missing the 101st playing of the coveted Major tournament. Thomas took to Twitter Monday afternoon to inform the golf world of his decision personally.
“Unfortunately I will be withdrawing from the 101st PGA Championship at Bethpage Black this week as my wrist is not yet fully healed. Obviously, as a past champion, this tournament is extra special to me. It consistently has the strongest field in golf and I’m disappointed to not be among those competing this year but I’m optimistic about a return in the near future.”
Entering Bethpage Black, the 26-year old was a 12-to-1 favorite heading into the week. Thomas has been battling the injury on and off since early 2018. He has been visibly sporting tape and bracings over the past year in an effort to combat the continuing situation. Prior to last year’s FedEx Cup Thomas was open about tendonitis of the wrist continually flaring up.
The last time the PGA Tour teed it up at Farmingdale, New York’s infamous Black Course was the 2016 Barclays FedEx Cup Playoff event. That year Thomas finished tied for 10th place and just four shots behind the eventual winner Patrick Reed. Thus far this season the Crimson Tide alumni sits top-10 in a number of PGA Tour statistics including leading the tour in Birdie Average, Par-5 Scoring and Scoring Average.
After a tie for 12th place last month at The Masters Thomas will look to rest up with both the U.S. Open and The Open Championship on the horizon within the next two months. With the withdrawal, Texas native Kelly Kraft will make his third PGA Championship appearance.
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