Travelers Championship Injury News & Player Notes

Jun 20th 2023Nick DeMott
  • Field Changes (-): Taylor Montgomery withdrew over the weekend.

  • Field Changes (+): Kevin Yu replaced Montgomery in the field over the weekend.

  • Field Changes (-): Alex Noren withdrew over the weekend.

  • Field Changes (+): Vincent Norrman replaced Noren in the field over the weekend.

  • Field Changes (-): Aaron Wise withdrew over the weekend.

  • Field Changes (+): Carson Young replaced Wise in the field over the weekend.

  • Field Changes (-): Dylan Frittelli withdrew over the weekend.

  • Field Changes (+): Paul Haley II replaced Frittelli in the field over the weekend.

  • Field Changes (+): Min Woo Lee was added to the field following his top-10 finish at the U.S. Open on Sunday.

  • Field Changes (+): Zecheng Dou was added to the field on Monday as a sponsor's exemption.

INJURY REPORT (as of 10am ET, 6/20):

Collin Morikawa (back) -- IN

Morikawa is now more than two weeks removed from the back injury that caused him to WD prior to his final round tee at the Memorial Tournament on June 4th. He suffered back spasms while warming up ahead of his Sunday round at Muirfield Village and pulled out of the tournament shortly before his tee time.

After withdrawing, Morikawa confirmed that the injury occurred to the muscle in his lower back and happened while reaching down to pick something up ("reflex stuff") during his pre-round warm-up. This was an unfortunate result for Morikawa who had put himself in contention with a chance to win on Sunday at Muirfield Village.

This past week, Morikawa finished T14 at the U.S. Open and exhibited no issues with his back. He's avoiding whatever warm-up exercise caused the back spasms at Muirfield Village, and at the moment, he's teeing the ball up in a precautionary way to avoid re-injury.

Jordan Spieth (wrist) -- IN

Spieth missed the cut on the number at last week's U.S. Open. However, Spieth notably practiced and played at LACC without any sort of wrist brace/support and without any KT tape down his forearm. So even with the missed cut, this is at least a positive sign that Spieth is likely past the minor wrist issue that was a concern throughout May and the early parts of June. (It's also worth highlighting that Spieth finished T5 at the Memorial Tournament in his start previous to the U.S. Open.)

Spieth will look to bounce back from the MC this week at the Travelers Championship, an event he won in 2017. He also plans to take a few weeks off to rest after Travelers.

Hideki Matsuyama (neck) -- IN

Matsuyama enters this week's Travelers Championship coming off a T32 finish at the U.S. Open and a T16 finish a few weeks ago at the Memorial Tournament. Nonetheless, Matsuyama's neck injury continues to be an issue to monitor week-to-week and any time he tees it up in an event.

According to a statement from PGA Tour Communications on April 28th, Matsuyama returned home to Japan after The Masters in order to receive treatment for his neck. However, according to the statement, Matsuyama's neck had not improved enough for him to compete at Quail Hollow.

Matsuyama ultimately returned to action at the AT&T Byron Nelson (May 11th-14th) after missing the Wells Fargo Championship. He finished T23 after shooting a final round 66 (-5) at TPC Craig Ranch.

Matsuyama has dealt with this neck issue intermittently for the past two seasons. When healthy this season, Matsuyama has played some solid golf--making the cut in each of his last seven starts and finishing T32 or better in all of them.

Jason Day (wrist) -- IN

Day enters this week's Travelers Championship having missed the cut in each of his last three starts (U.S. Open, Memorial, PGA Championship).

News of a wrist injury surfaced on May 31st, just a day prior to the start of the Memorial Tournament.

Day went on to miss the cut at the Memorial Tournament, and now enters this week's Travelers Championship having missed the cut in each of his three previous starts (though he did win the AT&T Byron Nelson about a month ago).

There haven't been many details or significant updates about Day's wrist issue other than him believing it to be a bone bruise. Seemingly it's a minor issue if Day is continuing to play through it.

Additionally, we learned last Tuesday (June 13th) that Day was switching to new irons for the U.S. Open.

"They're literally two days old...It's not like I wasn't happy with (TaylorMade P7MC) irons; I obviously just won with them, but I noticed they were coming out a bit low, and the spin was low. The P7TWs spin more."

Kevin Yu (knee) -- IN

Yu is slated to make his return to the PGA Tour this week at the Travelers Championship.

Yu competed in the U.S. Open final qualifier in Los Angeles on June 5th. These were Yu's first competitive rounds since undergoing surgery on February 20th for a torn meniscus.

The rookie was having an excellent first season on the PGA Tour with seven made cuts in 10 starts, one top-5 finish, and two top-10 finishes. In his last start before the injury, Yu finished T7 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Brendon Todd (shoulder) -- IN

Todd withdrew during the second round of the Memorial Tournament on June 2nd due to a shoulder injury. He returned the next week at the RBC Canadian Open where he finished T34. Despite playing well, Todd noted after R2 at the Canadian Open that he was managing the pain with pain meds and physical therapy and also experiencing some pain with each shot he hits.

There hasn't been an update on Todd's shoulder injury since then. He was not in the field for last week's U.S. Open though, and so he had the entire week to rest and recover. His status will be one to monitor in the days leading up to the start of Travelers on Thursday.

Webb Simpson (illness) -- IN

Simpson withdrew prior to his opening round tee time at the RBC Canadian Open on June 8th due to illness. He's currently in the field and expected to return this week at the Travelers Championship.

David Lingmerth (back) -- IN

In his most recent start, Lingmerth withdrew during the second round of the RBC Canadian due to a back injury (June 9th). He's currently in the field and slated to make his return at this week's Travelers Championship, though his status will be one worth monitoring.

J.B. Holmes (back) -- IN

Holmes is returning to action for the first time since withdrawing just prior to his opening tee time at the Wells Fargo Championship on May 4th due to a back injury.

Dylan Frittelli (illness) -- OUT

Frittelli withdrew from the Travelers Championship on Sunday (June 18th). The 33-year-old has not played since his WD during the first round of the Memorial Tournament on June 1st due to illness.

Tiger Woods (ankle, foot) -- OUT

Woods announced on April 19th that he underwent a subtalar fusion procedure to address his post-traumatic arthritis from a previous talus fracture. He is currently recovering and looks forward to beginning his rehabilitation.

The 15-time major champion withdrew in his most recent start at The Masters, citing a reaggravation of his plantar fasciitis after being seen walking with a noticeably worse limp during the third round. In February, Woods expressed his goal to play in all of the major championships this year. However, given this news of another ankle surgery and upcoming rehab, expectations should be tempered for Woods' chances at playing in the next three majors.

May 22nd update: Woods officially withdrew from the U.S. Open on May 22nd, and there's currently no official timetable for his return.

Will Zalatoris (back) -- OUT FOR SEASON

Zalatoris announced on his Instagram account on April 10th that he underwent successful surgery on his back and will now miss the rest of the season.

Zalatoris withdrew just prior to his first-round tee time at The Masters. As it turns out, Zalatoris was dealing with the same back issues (herniated discs) that caused him to be out for the last four months of 2022. Zalatoris has had a very promising start to his career, winning his first PGA Tour event last summer at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, but will now miss at least another five months following a microdiscectomy.

I've seen some confusion out there–this is the first time Zalatoris had back surgery. He did NOT have surgery in 2022 for this issue.

May 22nd update: Zalatoris announced on the ESPN broadcast during last week's PGA Championship that he feels pain-free for the first time in two years following back surgery. He's targeting a September return to the PGA Tour.

Daniel Berger (back) -- OUT

Berger remains sidelined from a back injury that has kept him out since the 2022 U.S. Open. The most recent update suggested he could return sometime in May but that is looking less likely as the month comes to an end. Berger tried to play through this injury last season but said “that was definitely not the answer.” Instead, Berger has opted to take a more patient approach in his recovery.

MAY 2ND UPDATE:

This article from AP News provides background and insight into the back injury Berger has been dealing with for the past year. In the article, Berger notes that it's not a career-ending injury but knows it'll be a challenge to get back to where he was as a top player in the world.

Berger has been posting clips on his Instagram account of him swinging a golf club, suggesting that his return could come soon though there is no official date or tournament that he's committed to yet.

JUNE 6TH UPDATE:

Berger was originally slated to compete in one of the U.S. Open final qualifiers on Monday (June 5th) as he was given a tee time for the qualifier in Boynton Beach, Florida but withdrew a couple of days prior.

Jhonattan Vegas (elbow) -- OUT

Vegas announced on his personal Twitter account on April 27th that he suffered an elbow injury related to the one that plagued him last year. He underwent surgery in April of 2022, and then later in the year Vegas opted to take the entire Fall portion of the PGA Tour schedule off due to this recurrent injury.

The 38-year-old has not played in a PGA Tour event since the Valspar Championship last month. Vegas said the recovery is taking longer than he expected but is working hard to return as soon as possible.

Erik Barnes (knee) -- OUT

Barnes underwent knee surgery on April 3rd and is without a timetable for his return to the PGA Tour.

The 35-year-old rookie posted on Twitter that he was having reconstructive surgery on his MPFL and a repair of his MCL. Barnes said he's battled knee subluxation issues for the last couple of years which have worsened over the past few weeks. According to Barnes' social media post, the surgery was successful but he expects a long road in his recovery and eventual return to the PGA Tour.

John Huh (elbow tendinitis) -- OUT

Huh has yet to play in an event in 2023 due to elbow tendinitis. His last start came at The RSM Classic (November 20th, 2022).

Philip Knowles (hand) -- OUT

Knowles announced on his Instagram account on May 1st that he severed a nerve in his thumb on February 1st, underwent surgery on February 24th, and started swinging a golf club again on April 14th.

He noted that (as of May 1st) he's nearly back to full function but "range of motion is limited due to scar tissue" and "lack of sensation in the outside part of my thumb."

Knowles was originally listed in the field for the RBC Canadian Open but pulled out of it over the weekend.

Other Player News:

Byeong Hun An -- IN

An withdrew from final qualifying for the U.S. Open after just nine holes on June 5th. He then also WD'd from the RBC Canadian Open that same day. It's unclear whether any of this was injury related or not.

An is currently in the field and slated to return at this week's Travelers Championship, though it could be worth keeping an eye on his status in the days leading up to the start of the event.

Zac Blair -- IN

Blair withdrew two days prior to the start of the RBC Canadian Open on June 6th for an undisclosed reason. He's slated to return this week at TPC River Highlands.

Joseph Bramlett -- IN

Bramlett withdrew two days prior to the start of the RBC Canadian Open on June 6th for an undisclosed reason. He's slated to return this week at TPC River Highlands.

Ben Griffin -- IN

Griffin withdrew two days prior to the start of the RBC Canadian Open on June 6th for an undisclosed reason. He's slated to return this week at TPC River Highlands.

Sam Ryder -- IN

Ryder withdrew three days prior to the start of the RBC Canadian Open on June 6th for an undisclosed reason. He's slated to return this week at TPC River Highlands.