13-05-2025
PGA Tour Legend Follows John Daly, Withdraws from PGA Championship
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John Daly decided to skip the PGA Championship to play in the Regions Tradition, the first major of the PGA Tour Champions season. Both tournaments will be played on the same weekend, a move that has been criticized by Daly.
The iconic player was not the only one to make the move, as fellow major winner Vijay Singh made the same decision. The 62-year-old has a lifetime invitation to the PGA Championship and is a two-time winner of the Wanamaker Trophy (1998, 2004).
Singh's decision is not entirely surprising, however, as he has been absent from the PGA Championship since 2019. The 2000 Masters Tournament winner will be replaced in the field by Michael Thorbjornsen.
Vijay Singh of Fiji plays his shot from the fifth tee during the first round of the 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club on August 9, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri.
Vijay Singh of Fiji plays his shot from the fifth tee during the first round of the 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club on August 9, 2018 in St Louis, Singh also withdrew from the Masters last month due to injury. It was the first time he had not played at Augusta National since making his debut in 1994.
Daly and Singh are just two of many former champions who will be absent from the PGA Championship. Tiger Woods (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007), Y.E. Yang (2009), Davis Love III (1997) and Rich Beem (2002) all withdrew from the event for various reasons.
In announcing his decision not to play in the PGA Championship, Daly explained his reasons:
"I can go there [PGA Championship] and miss the cut and get $6,000. I'm playing Birmingham [home of the Regions Tradition]. I love Regions. They're a great sponsor... Why are they scheduling Regions the same week as the PGA Championship, where I can see Brooks [Koepka] and all the guys?"
Singh has been playing the Tradition since 2017, with the exception of 2020 (did not play the event) and 2022. His best finish was a T15 in 2023.
The Fiji native has played in 27 editions of the PGA Championship, making 19 cuts. He added four other top-10 finishes to his two victories. His record in major championships includes 101 appearances with 74 cuts and 23 top 10s, including his three wins.
As for the senior majors, Singh has played in 35 editions with one victory (2018 Senior Players Championship), one runner-up finish (2017 Senior PGA Championship) and five other top 10s.
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