PGA Tour star Jake Knapp forced out of Sony Open at Waialae

PGA Tour star Jake Knapp forced to withdraw from the Sony Open through a back injury. 

Knapp, 30, was ruled out of the tournament just two hours before the start of his first round. 

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The American was due to peg it up at the Sony Open alongside Brice Garnett and Tom Hoge for the opening two rounds.

But the PGA Tour communications team confirmed Knapp was unable to participate in the tournament on Thursday.

Knapp officially withdrew from the Sony Open after picking up a back injury. 

Knapp's WD came two hours after his compatriot Michael Thorbjornsen also withdrew from the event.

But Thorbjornsen gave no official reason for his WD. 

That raised a number of golf fans to assume he was potentially considering a move to LIV Golf given their transfer window is still open. 

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Thorbjornsen was replaced in the field by Lanto Griffin. 

Knapp has not been replaced in the Sony Open field and therefore Garnett and Hoge will make up a two-ball for the first two rounds at Waialae CC in Hawaii.

Knapp landed his maiden PGA Tour title in his debut season at the Mexico Open in February 2024. 

Despite enduring a rough season thereafter, Knapp did end the year on a positive note with victory alongside Patty Tavatanakit in the dual-gender Grant Thornton Invitational.

That did not count as an official win on the PGA Tour circuit though. 

Knapp endured a wretched start to the 2025 PGA Tour season last week when slumping to a 56th finish at The Sentry. 

No doubt his back injury played a large part in his sluggish performance in the limited field event at famed Kapalua.

Knapp is currently ranked 88th in the world. 

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