Golf fans all say same thing as PGA Tour pro forced out of Valspar Championship

Aaron Wise was forced to withdraw prior to the start of the Valspar Championship today, but the PGA Tour's decision not to add an alternate to replace him in the field has baffled a number of golf fans. 

The PGA Tour confirmed Wise's WD at 7.17am local time, more than five hours before the American was due to tee off on the 10th tee alongside compatriot Lucas Glover and South Korea's KH Lee. 

No official reason was given for Wise's WD.

Wise, 27, has only managed to compete in one PGA Tour event this season with a missed cut at the Puerto Rico Open in March. 

The World No.237 has missed his last four cuts on the PGA Tour.

Wise, who won his sole PGA Tour title at the 2018 AT&T Byron Nelson, was forced to take a significant time out of the game last season due to mental health struggles. 

Why was Aaron Wise not replaced at the Valspar Championship?

In the majority of PGA Tour events, the first alternate would normally be on site ready and waiting to replace the golfer that was forced out for whatever reason. 

"Why wouldn't he be replaced? No alternates?" one golf fan wrote on Twitter.

Another commented: "Respectful move to WD before the tee time to give alternates a chance, unfortunately it seems like no one can sub in?"

"I’m curious as well, why would you not replace him? Plenty of alternates on the list," questioned another PGA Tour fan. 

Why wouldn’t he be replaced? No alternates?

— jjarmy (@Bigcatstoenails) March 21, 2024

However, for this week's Valspar Championship and the next two events on the schedule, the PGA Tour had already confirmed no alternates would be added unless the field size got below 144. 

The PGA Tour made this decision earlier in the season to expand to as many as 156 players to increase playing time for as many fully exempt PGA Tour members as possible, including Korn Ferry Tour, DP World Tour and PGA Tour Q-School graduates.

Patton Kizzire was the first alternate in this week's field, followed by Kevin Chappell.

But unfortunately for Kizzire, the field size was only reduced to 153 by the time Wise chose to bow out of the tournament just before the first round. 

It means Glover and Lee will be going off in a two-ball for the first two rounds this week. 

Patrick Cantlay was the star name to withdraw his name from the field earlier this week amid ongoing PGA Tour-PIF talks. 

The PGA Tour has confirmed the same provision will apply at next week's Texas Children's Houston Open and the following week's Valero Texas Open.

What do you make of the PGA Tour's decision not to replace players that have withdrawn this week with first alternates? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.

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