Matsuyama withdraws from Hero World Challenge with injury

[November 23, 2022] 

(Reuters) - Former champion Hideki Matsuyama has withdrawn from next week's Tiger Woods-hosted Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas due to an injury, a tournament official said on Tuesday.

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan takes a tee shot at the first hole during the first round of the Cadence Bank Houston Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

Japan's Matsuyama, who won the limited-field event in 2016, has suffered a number of injuries this year and most recently withdrew from the Houston Open 10 days ago citing a neck injury after opening his third round with a four-over-par 39.

The decision to sit out the Dec. 1-4 Hero World Challenge at Albany marks the sixth time this season the 2021 Masters winner has pulled out of a PGA Tour event because of injury.

He withdrew from The Players Championship in March ahead of the first round with a lingering back injury. He then withdrew from the Texas Open a week before his Masters title defence.

The 30-year-old also withdrew from the 3M Open after the first round in July due to wrist soreness and then cited a neck injury for his decision to skip the first leg of the FedExCup playoffs in August.

The world number 19 , an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, will be replaced in the 20-player field at Albany by Canadian Corey Conners.

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Ken Ferris)

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