Hideki Matsuyama withdraws from $20,000,000 PGA Tour event

PGA Tour star Hideki Matsuyama was forced to withdraw before the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship with a recurring back injury. 

Matsuyama's withdrawal from the $20,000,000 signature event at Quail Hollow Club was confirmed with a statement from the official communications team at 1.28pm on 9 May. 

There are no alternates in signature events and therefore his scheduled playing partners Sahith Theegala and Viktor Hovland played as a two ball. 

World number six Ludvig Aberg also withdraw from this event earlier in the week, citing a knee injury. 

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That means the field has been reduced to 68 competitors. 

World number one Scottie Scheffler is also skipping this tournament owing to the fact his wife Meredith is expecting their first child any day now. 

Later, Matsuyama released a statement whereby he said: "I suffered tightness in my back this morning during training and it never loosened up enough to start the first round.

"I want to thank Wells Fargo and everyone at Quail Hollow for their warm hospitality. 

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to tee it up today and best wishes for another great event."

Matsuyama, the winner of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club earlier in the season, has been struggling with back issues for quite some time now. 

Over the last two years he has withdrawn from multiple events owing to problems with his back and neck. 

Despite his struggles, this season he has been a pillar of consistency and made 10 cuts in a row. 

His victory at Riviera saw him win for the first time in two years and gave him hope that he could contend at the 2024 Masters. 

Matsuyama finished in a tie for 38th in the first major of the year at Augusta National but this setback will mean a start at the US PGA Championship next week is in serious jeopardy. 

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