Koepka made to wait for PGA return after Cantlay | Golf News

Patrick Cantlay has joined a growing roster of elite golfers withdrawing from the PGA Tour’s Cadillac Championship, while Brooks Koepka stays unable to secure a spot in a signature event lineup.

Cantlay, who has claimed eight PGA Tour victories, announced he would miss the $20 million event at Trump National Doral in Miami beginning Thursday due to sickness.

While bringing the PGA Tour back represents a victory for the President, the event faces scheduling challenges. Positioned immediately before the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow and the PGA Championship at Aronimink, it has created tough decisions for opponents relating to their calendars.

Five-time major winner Koepka was designated as first alternate when the participant checklist was launched last week, though a disappointing displaying at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans dropped him additional down the rankings.

Koepka partnered with Shane Lowry in the workforce competitors at TPC Louisiana last week, but they missed the cut by a single stroke. Fitzpatrick and his brother, Alex, captured the title, with the latter securing a PGA Tour card and entry into the Cadillac Championship. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive interviews with Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia and more

Michael Thorbjornsen was bumped out of the sector to first alternate, while Kristoffer Reitan and Kris Ventura’s runner-up end in New Orleans pushed Reitan forward of Koepka to No. 2 on the alternate checklist.

Cantlay’s withdrawal allowed Thorbjornsen back into the sector, but Koepka faces yet another irritating wait to make his debut in a signature event since rejoining the PGA Tour.

The former world No. 1 was reinstated in January after quitting LIV Golf on the proviso he had to play his means into signature occasions, and he’s barred from receiving sponsor exemptions.

His performances have been lackluster since his return, managing just one top-10 end in eight begins, and he has been compelled to watch from the sidelines as the tour’s marquee occasions have handed him by.

He endured a significantly painful day at the RBC Heritage earlier this month, serving as first alternate and sitting in the clubhouse throughout the whole first spherical, ready for a participant to withdraw before their tee time. None did, and he left empty-handed.

The 35-year-old finds himself in a comparable place this week, though he was properly conscious of the situations hooked up to his instant return to the PGA Tour.