Francesco Molinari & Padraig Harrington out of US PGA Championship
Two major champions have withdrawn from the US PGA Championship next week.
Franceco Molinari and Padraig Harrington have withdrawn from the US PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park next week.
Since golf made its return after a 91-day absence to limit the spread of the coronavirus, neither Molinari or Harrington have played and both were set to return in San Francisco next week for the first major of the year.
The US PGA Championship was scheduled for May but was postponed due to the worldwide pandemic and on Thursday, event organisers confirmed that the two major winners have withdrawn from the tournament.
Molinari, who has struggled to find any sort of form since his Masters collapse in April last year, recently announced that he and his family would be moving to California after spending 11 years in London.
The 2018 Open Champion made it clear in a statement that his planned move was keeping him from playing competitive golf, but he wanted to be back for the US PGA Championship.
"The next chapter of our life is going to be in California, where we hope to be safe, happy and to spend more time together as a family. This is what’s keeping me busy now and away from tournament golf, the hope is to be back for the US PGA in August," read part of Molinari's statement.
Harrington, who won the US PGA Championship back in 2008, hasn't competed since March, although he has been keeping busy and providing golf fans with tips through his social media accounts.
Talor Gooch, American golfer currently 141st in the World Rankings, will replace Harrington at TPC Harding Park, while Troy Merritt, World No.153, will take Molinari's spot.
