Patrick Cantlay has been forced to withdraw from this week’s PGA Tour Cadillac Championship, dealing a late blow to one of the season’s richest events. The American star pulled out ahead of the opening round due to illness, ending hopes of seeing one of the tour’s most consistent players compete for the massive $20 million purse.
Cantlay arrived at the tournament in excellent form. He had been building momentum with a string of strong finishes, including top results at the Valspar Championship, The Masters, and RBC Heritage. Many had tipped him as a serious contender this week, especially with several other elite names already missing from the field. His withdrawal now creates another major storyline before a shot has even been struck.
The Cadillac Championship has attracted attention not only because of the prize money, but because it marks the PGA Tour’s return to Trump National Doral for the first time in a decade. The famous Blue Monster course has long been known as one of the toughest tests in professional golf, with water hazards, demanding fairways, and windy conditions often punishing even the best players.
Cantlay’s absence adds to a growing list of notable players skipping or missing the event. Several high-profile stars were already unavailable, meaning fans were hoping Cantlay could help headline the field alongside the remaining top names. Instead, the tournament loses another proven contender and one of the most respected competitors on tour.
His place in the field has been taken by Michael Thorbjornsen, one of golf’s rising young talents. The replacement now gets a golden opportunity to test himself in one of the PGA Tour’s signature events against many of the world’s best players.
For Cantlay, the focus will now shift to recovery and preparation for the upcoming stretch of big tournaments, including the Truist Championship and the PGA Championship. With the major season heating up, he will hope this setback proves only temporary.
While the Cadillac Championship still boasts a strong field and enormous stakes, Cantlay’s late withdrawal is a disappointing development for fans who expected to see one of golf’s biggest names in action.
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