Scottie Scheffler's Injury Alters 2025 PGA Tour Landscape as The Sentry Begins

The commencement of the 2025 PGA Tour season is here, marked by The Sentry event at the Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii. A total of 60 elite players, comprising the top 50 competitors from last year’s FedEx Cup and any tournament winners throughout the year, are set to compete. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler qualifies for this exclusive event but has had to withdraw after suffering an injury while cooking on Christmas Day. He sustained a puncture wound from broken glass, which required surgery to extract glass fragments from the palm of his right hand. Due to this incident, Scheffler's participation in The Sentry is off the table, and his availability for the upcoming American Express is also uncertain.

Xander Schauffele, currently ranked as the World No. 2, expressed his disappointment regarding Scheffler’s withdrawal, highlighting their competitive yet friendly relationship. He emphasized the importance of having Scheffler join the tournament and wished for his speedy recovery. With Scheffler out, Schauffele will be the main focus of the event, alongside Rory McIlroy, who has also chosen to sit this one out. Schauffele is coming off a remarkable season, having secured victories in both the PGA Championship and the Open Championship, and is now focusing on improving his short game, particularly his wedge skills.

In addition to Schauffele, other significant names rounding out the field include Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, Will Zalatoris, Tony Finau, Max Homa, and Justin Thomas. From Norway, Viktor Hovland hopes to compete despite recently breaking his right little toe in an unusual accident. This event also features 15 first-time winners, notable among them is Nick Dunlap, the youngest amateur to win on tour since Phil Mickelson. Dunlap’s recent successes solidify his status as a rising star in the golf circuit. The defending champion is Chris Kirk, with Justin Thomas and Schauffele previously claiming victories at The Sentry in past years.