Michael Kim withdraws from home Farmers Insurance Open due to back strain

San Diego’s hometown hero Michael Kim has confirmed he will miss this week’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines due to a back strain.

Kim, 32, is unofficially known as the King of Golf X, as he typically speaks to his fan about all things golf on a daily basis. 

After starting the 2026 PGA Tour season with a T31 at the Sony Open and a missed cut at last week's American Express, the World No.42 has confirmed he needs some time out of action to deal with back pain. 

Taking to social media platform X, Kim explained: "I’ve been dealing with a back strain these last few weeks and was hoping it would improve, but it hasn’t. I’m taking a week off to get healthy for the next stretch. Really disappointing to miss my hometown event. I’ll be back next year."

Kim, who captured the Open de France title last season, is being replaced in the field by Sam Ryder.

Other early withdrawals from this week's PGA Tour event include Patton Kizzire, replaced by Joel Dahmen, and Nico Echavarria, replaced by Taylor Moore.

The Farmers Insurance Open also marks the PGA Tour return of five-time major champion and former World No.1 Brooks Koepka. 

Koepka, who left LIV Golf at the end of 2025 despite one year remaining on his $100m contract, cited missing the PGA Tour and wanting more family time as reasons for his departure. 

He was reinstated earlier this month under the Tour’s new Returning Membership program and will debut his comeback at Torrey Pines before heading to the WM Phoenix Open.

The Farmers Insurance Open also features a strong field including Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Ludvig Aberg, Cameron Young, Jason Day, and Sony Open champion Chris Gotterup.

The tournament is staged over both the South and North Courses.