Justin Thomas, the No. 5 player in the World Golf Rankings, has withdrawn from this week’s PGA Championship because of a wrist injury.
Thomas, 26, won the PGA Championship in 2017 at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C., and tied for sixth last season at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis.
The season’s second major begins Thursday at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y.
“Obviously, as a past Champion, this tournament is extra special to me,” Thomas wrote on social media. “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.”
Kelly Kraft, a 30-year-old from Dallas who has two top 10 finishes this season, will replace Thomas in the field.
Thomas, who has nine career victories on the PGA Tour, has five top 10 finishes this season in 11 events. He last played at the Masters last month, tying for 12th at 8 under. He has been bothered by the nagging wrist injury that prevented him from playing at Quail Hollow in the Wells Fargo Championship that began May 2.
–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)
