Golf fans stunned as another big name PGA Tour star bows out of Farmers Insurance Open
PGA Tour pro Akshay Bhatia has withdrawn from the Farmers Insurance Open joining a host of big name absentees including Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa at Torrey Pines.
PGA Tour star Akshay Bhatia has become the latest big name to withdraw from this week's Farmers Insurance Open at famed Torrey Pines.
World No.31 Bhatia joins World No.2 Xander Schauffele and World No.5 Collin Morikawa in bowing out of the field on the eve of the tournament.
Bhatia, a two-time PGA Tour winner, was last week seen playing in the Dubai Desert Classic.
He went on to finish T37.
Bhatia also spent some time filming a hilarious new viral DP World Tour video, which you can watch in full below.
Absolutely ridiculous!!! I’m a golfer not an influencer… https://t.co/BFu404kmDa
— Tommy Fleetwood (@TommyFleetwood1) January 17, 2025
International Presidents Cup player Mackenzie Hughes and European Ryder Cup star Nicolai Hojgaard have also WD from the Farmers Insurance Open along with little known Tyler McCumber.
American trio Hayden Springer, Wesley Bryan and Pierceson Coody, South Korea's S.H. Kim and South Africa's Garrick Higgo been named as their replacements in the field.
Farmers Insurance Open field update:
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) January 20, 2025
Akshay Bhatia - WD
Garrick Higgo - IN https://t.co/bGu95HFwfn
PGA Tour fans have been left in a state of shock as to why there have been so many WDs from typically one of the circuit's most sought after events of the season.
The tournament has been established on the PGA Tour since 1954.
"This is turning into the one of the worst Farmers of all time," wrote one disgruntled PGA Tour fan.
"WTF is happening on the PGA Tour, so many WDs I can't keep up!" commented another.
Another tweeted: "Probably the s**tiest field this event has ever seen. No wonder Farmers is pulling out as sponsor starting next year."
Schauffele's team revealed a "medical issue" was the reason for the two-time major champion's WD.
It marks the first time in nine straight years that Schauffele has withdrawn from his home San Diego event.
The teams of Morikawa, Bhatia, Hojgaard and Hughes have not confirmed their official reasons for bowing out of the event.
Related:
The 2025 Farmers Insurance Open is being played from Wednesday to Saturday.
That's as to avoid the final round going up against the NFL's AFC and NFC Championship games.
The event will once again be staged on both North and South Courses at Torrey Pines over the first two rounds.
The last two rounds at the weekend will then be staged on the famous South Course.
Farmers Insurance recently confirmed it will not be renewing its contract as the title sponsor of this tournament as of 2026.
European Ryder Cup hero Ludvig Aberg and former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama are now the headline names in the 2025 Farmers Insurance Open.
Former World No.1 and two-time Farmers Insurance Open champion Jason Day is also be one of the favourites for the iconic PGA Tour event alongside the likes of Sungjae Im, Will Zalatoris, Max Greyserman and 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley.
Matthieu Pavon is the defending champion.
That's because Scheffler hurt his hand on Christmas Day and he then required immediate surgery for it.
Related:
Scheffler was expected to return at The American Express this week but he confirmed he was not going to be able to participate on the eve of the event.
The two-time major champion and reigning FedEx Cup champion is expected to make his first PGA Tour start of the season at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am from January 30 to February 2.
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