Brooks Koepka has withdrawn from the 2021 Players Championship due to injury.
“Brooks strained his right knee and he is scheduled to further consult with doctors this week to receive a more extensive evaluation and outlook,” said Blake Smith, Koepka’s manager. “We will be able to provide additional updates and information as we learn more.”
The injury to his right knee is a new problem for Koepka, a four-time major winner, who seemingly had overcome the injury bug that has plagued him for the past 18 months. Koepka battled injuries to his left knee, which required multiple stem-cell treatments, and hip. He missed the Presidents Cup in December 2019 and needed another two-month layoff last year, skipping the FedEx Cup playoffs and U.S. Open at Winged Foot, to allow his injuries to heal properly.
Koepka, 30, won the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February and last played at the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship at The Concession where he finished in a tie for second. He dealt with a neck injury all week at the WGC.
With Koepka’s withdrawal, the field now includes 48 of the top 50 in both the FedExCup standings and the Official World Golf Ranking. He will be replaced in the 154-player field by Anirban Lahiri of India unless a player not otherwise exempt wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday.