Xander Schauffele becomes latest high-profile player to WD from Phoenix Open

Xander Schauffele has joined a growing list of players withdrawing from this week's PGA Tour event. 

Schauffele was listed as a withdrawal from the Waste Management Phoenix Open on 5 February.

Earlier in the day Viktor Hovland also decided to skip the event, held annually at TPC Scottsdale, without giving an explanation. 

The accepted reason is that Hovland has decided to spend a week working on his game after a poor start to the PGA Tour season. 

Hovland, the World No.4, finished T-22 at The Sentry in early January and followed that with a T-58 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. 

The Norwegian Ryder Cup star has been going through some changes off the course.

He sacked his long-time swing coach, Joe Mayo, at the beginning of the year and replaced him with a former PGA Tour player. 

Of course there were the obligatory rumours on social media the golfer was being lined up as the latest LIV Golf signing. 

As for Schauffele, he has played four events in 2024. He has recorded two top-10s finishes (The Sentry, Farmers Insurance Open and American Express). 

Schauffele finished T-54 at the weather-reduced AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. 

Hovland was replaced in the field by Victor Perez. Schauffele's spot has been taken by Sweden's Alexander Bjork. 

No reason has been provided for Schauffele's withdrawal either. Sami Valimaki was listed as the first alternate. 

The Waste Management Phoenix Open takes place over 8-11 February.

The tournament has a total prize purse of $8m and the winner will walk away with $1,584,000

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion. 

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