PGA Tour star withdraws from Arnold Palmer minutes | Sports News

Jake Knapp pulled out of the Arnold Palmer Invitational mere moments earlier than his scheduled tee-time at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge.

The two-time PGA Tour champion eliminated himself from competing within the season’s third signature occasion and was substituted by China’s Haotong Li.

A PGA Tour announcement was issued at 11:50 a.m., simply 15 minutes earlier than his scheduled 12:05 p.m.tee-off, stating: “Jake Knapp WD prior to the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. Haotong Li will replace Knapp in the 12:05 p.m. tee time.”

According to Golfweek, Knapp’s agent confirmed he’s battling sickness and desires to recuperate earlier than subsequent week’s Players Championship, the place the world No. 41 is in search of one other match victory past his CJ CUP Byron Nelson triumph.

Following a T-11 placement on the Sony Open to kick off the season, Knapp secured 4 consecutive top-10 finishes and is scheduled to compete in subsequent week’s Players Championship.

Knapp achieved a tie for fifth on the Farmers Insurance Open, adopted by a solo eighth-place end on the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Despite Knapp’s absence, Genesis Invitational champion Collin Morikawa and quite a few different opponents stay in pursuit of a signature title.

“I think everything worked well and it was like everything was kind of a little bit off at the same time,” Morikawa mirrored after his spherical. “Out here putting’s very difficult, just because of how baked and dry the grass is. It doesn’t really roll tight until about halfway through the putt. But I was able to really just trust my stroke, and made obviously a handful of putts out there.

“Irons felt fairly good all through the bag. Then woods and the tee photographs have been a combine of all the pieces. Took benefit of the nice drives, had a few ones that have been a little bit off. But 6-under and to be completed out right here, fairly proud of the way in which Thursday’s began.”

Morikawa also discussed swing modifications as he pursued his second major victory of the 2026 season.

“I feel final yr you needed to consider that it was going to be the change that you just needed, proper. Then till November, December once I mentioned, screw it, like I’m going to put each ounce of my power into fixing my physique as a substitute of making an attempt to repair the golf swing,” Morikawa said after the opening round.

“I’m going to repair, you realize, repair the back, be healthy, get more healthy, transfer higher. Not that I used to be taking part in injured each single week, however there’s a distinction of shifting freely and never being scared of doing issues.

“And compare, the last couple years, maybe dancing around other aspects of the body. So that was the biggest thing is now it feels like when I wake up and I go and warm-up I’m ready to go. Versus trying to get into it and hopefully, and hoping that the one swing thought is going to sync up with how the body’s moving. I’m really diligent with making sure the body’s in a great spot every morning to then say, okay, the same feels are being able to translate into the rest of the game.”