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Associated press
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Justin Thomas retired from the PGA Championship on Monday, saying he did not want to risk further pain in his right wrist when he came back before he was completely cured.
The former University of Alabama player, who won the PGA Championship two years ago at Quail Hollow, will miss a major player for the first time since his rookie season in 2015 .
He suffered a first bruise after an injury to the Honda Classic after intentionally striking a tree. He felt he was making it worse in the last Masters round, although he said that was not the case.
"I've seen too many people come back too soon," Thomas said from his home in Jupiter, Florida. "I intend to do that for a long time and I do not want a stupid decision to delay."
He said he could have played the PGA Championship this week at Bethpage Black, but he did not guarantee that there would be no setbacks.
Thomas, the world number 5, has been replaced by Kelly Kraft.
Thomas finished tied for 12th at the Masters, where he made a hole in one shot during the 16th hole of the last round. He had not hit the ball since and had retired from the Wells Fargo Championship two weeks ago to give his wrist every chance to heal.
He started hitting 50 balls a day during the weekend and was up to a 5 iron on Sunday. His plan was to try to fly Monday, play 18 holes at home Tuesday and then fly to Bethpage on Wednesday.
"It hurt a few shots and I thought it was not worth it," he said.
Thomas thinks that if his club broke in two when he hit the tree at Honda, he would have been fine, but he felt a shock in his right arm when he did not break.
"I imagine that I should have stopped," he says, laughing. "I'm still bogeying, which is worse."
He did not know when he would come back and did not rule out Colonial next week, depending on how his wrist reacted to rest and rehabilitation. He also has the memorial to his schedule and the next major will be held June 13-16 at Pebble Beach for the US opening.
In the meantime, he does a lot of putting, but not much else.
"I thought there was not much to do in South Florida if you did not play golf," he said.
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