Patrick Cantlay withdraws from Wyndham Championship ahead of FedEx Cup Playoffs

Patrick Cantlay has withdrawn from this week's Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club, just days after recording his fourth top-10 finish of the 2026 PGA Tour season.

The eight-time PGA Tour winner pulled out of the tournament on Monday, although no official reason has been given for his withdrawal.

Players are only required to provide an official reason for withdrawing from a PGA Tour event when they decide to pull out during a tournament. 

Cantlay finished tied eighth at last week's Rocket Classic, where he looked poised to challenge for victory after sharing the 36-hole lead at Detroit Golf Club.

However, a disappointing weekend erased his hopes of ending a winless run that stretches back to August 2022. 

Rounds of 70 and 68 left the 34-year-old six shots behind Michael Thorbjornsen, who claimed his maiden PGA Tour title.

Despite striking the ball well throughout the week, Cantlay struggled on the greens over the weekend. 

His third-round putting proved particularly costly, with the American losing more than two and half strokes to the field on the greens.

While Cantlay has not explained his decision to withdraw from this week's tournament in North Carolina, it may simply be a case of managing his schedule ahead of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Had the World No.39 teed it up at the Wyndham Championship and progressed all the way to the Tour Championship at East Lake later this month, then Cantlay would have faced five consecutive weeks of tournament golf. 

Most of the PGA Tour's leading players now avoid playing more than three or four straight events to reduce fatigue during the busiest part of the season.

Cantlay's tie for eighth at the Rocket Classic bumped him up two places to 41st in the FedEx Cup standings, comfortably securing his place in next week's FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind, where the top 70 players begin the Playoffs.

The field will then be cut to the top 50 for the BMW Championship at Bellerive Golf Course. 

Cantlay won that event in 2022, albeit on a different golf course, unthinkably marking his most recent PGA Tour victory. 

The top 30 after the BMW Championship will then advance to the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake.

Ben Silverman has replaced Cantlay in the Wyndham Championship field.

Silverman will need to win the tournament in order to break into the Playoffs since he's down at 136th in the FedEx Cup standings. 

Rocket Classic champion Thorbjornsen also withdrew following his breakthrough victory on Sunday. 

The American's win vaulted him from 69th to 38th in the FedEx Cup standings, removing any need to play this week. 

Justin Lower, ranked a lowly 174th in the standings, takes his place in the field. 

Young back to defend title

Cameron Young headlines the Wyndham Championship as the highest-ranked player in the field. 

The World No.3, who finished tied eighth at the Rocket Classic after sharing the halfway lead with Cantlay, returns as defending champion following his dominant six-shot victory at Sedgefield last year.

Young sits third in the FedEx Cup standings after victories at The Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship this season.

Koepka, Day with work to do

Elsewhere, some notable big names face a battle to keep their FedEx Cup campaigns alive. 

Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka begins the week 86th in the FedEx Cup standings and needs a strong finish to reach the top 70, while fellow former World No.1 Jason Day also has work to do from 75th. 

Both players have seen their campaigns disrupted by injuries over recent months.