PGA Tour star withdraws from Arnold Palmer minutes | Golf News

Jake Knapp pulled out of the Arnold Palmer Invitational mere moments before his scheduled tee-time at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge.

The two-time PGA Tour champion eliminated himself from competing in the season’s third signature event and was substituted by China’s Haotong Li.

A PGA Tour announcement was issued at 11:50 a.m., just 15 minutes before his scheduled 12:05 p.m.tee-off, stating: “Jake Knapp WD prior to the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. Haotong Li will replace Knapp in the 12:05 p.m. tee time.”

According to Golfweek, Knapp’s agent confirmed he’s battling sickness and desires to recuperate before next week’s Players Championship, where the world No. 41 is looking for another match victory past his CJ CUP Byron Nelson triumph.

Following a T-11 placement at the Sony Open to kick off the season, Knapp secured 4 consecutive top-10 finishes and is scheduled to compete in next week’s Players Championship.

Knapp achieved a tie for fifth at the Farmers Insurance Open, adopted by a solo eighth-place end at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Despite Knapp’s absence, Genesis Invitational champion Collin Morikawa and quite a few other rivals stay in pursuit of a signature title.

“I think everything worked well and it was like everything was kind of a little bit off at the same time,” Morikawa mirrored after his spherical. “Out here putting’s very difficult, just because of how baked and dry the grass is. It doesn’t really roll tight until about halfway through the putt. But I was able to really just trust my stroke, and made obviously a handful of putts out there.

“Irons felt fairly good throughout the bag. Then woods and the tee photographs have been a combine of all the things. Took benefit of the great drives, had a few ones that have been a little bit off. But 6-under and to be completed out right here, fairly completely satisfied with the best way Thursday’s began.”

Morikawa also discussed swing modifications as he pursued his second major victory of the 2026 season.

“I feel last yr you had to imagine that it was going to be the change that you needed, proper. Then until November, December when I said, screw it, like I’m going to put every ounce of my power into fixing my physique instead of making an attempt to repair the golf swing,” Morikawa said after the opening round.

“I’m going to repair, , repair the back, be healthy, get more healthy, transfer better. Not that I used to be taking part in injured every single week, but there’s a distinction of shifting freely and not being scared of doing issues.

“And compare, the last couple years, maybe dancing around other aspects of the body. So that was the biggest thing is now it feels like when I wake up and I go and warm-up I’m ready to go. Versus trying to get into it and hopefully, and hoping that the one swing thought is going to sync up with how the body’s moving. I’m really diligent with making sure the body’s in a great spot every morning to then say, okay, the same feels are being able to translate into the rest of the game.”