The golfer has taken himself out of the field for the second major of the seasonKylee Hansen Golf Reporter and Chris Burns Senior Sports Writer
10:42, 12 May 2026
Jake Knapp withdrew from the second major of the season(Image: Getty Images)
Jake Knapp has again withdrawn from a tournament this season, as he will miss the PGA Championship at Aronimink, the second major of the year. Knapp pulled out of the Philadelphia event due to a thumb sprain, with Tom Hoge stepping in to compete alongside the world’s finest players, including the likes of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.
Hoge boasts a single victory on the PGA Tour and will be chasing his maiden major title at the return of major championship golf to the Philadelphia area for the first time since 2013, and the region’s first PGA Championship since Gary Player triumphed at Aronimink in 1962.
Knapp also pulled out earlier this season from a PGA Tour signature event at the Arnold Palmer Invitational through illness, where Akshay Bhatia claimed the title. Knapp’s sole PGA Tour victory came at the 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta and he will be targeting a return to action at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson following the PGA Championship.
Hoge will line up alongside World No. 1 Scheffler, Masters winner McIlroy and American star Jordan Spieth, who is looking to win the event for the first time and seal a career Grand Slam. However, two-time winner Phil Mickelson will miss out.
There have been some concern over McIlroy’s participation after he was spotted limping at the Truist Championship. The Northern Irish superstar finished in joint-19th place at the signature event.
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“Yeah, I’ve got a blister on my pinky toe on my right foot,” he said. “But it’s underneath my nail. So I can’t really get to it or so it’s a little sore, but I’ll be all right.”
Asked if the minor injury was in any way to blame for his poor form at the Truist, he said: “No, not at all. No, that was – I wish that was an excuse, but absolutely not (laughing). No, it’s fine. I’ll be okay.”
Rory McIlroy will be in action at the PGA Championship this week(Image: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The two-time PGA Championship winner did admit he has a few areas to iron out before the second major of the season. “I think the range session last night was good, Figured out a couple of things,” McIlroy added.
“As I said, I feel like I got into a couple of bad habits just because of that left-to-right wind on the range all week. So straighten that out.
Meanwhile, Spieth, who finished runner-up at the PGA Championship in 2015, is aiming for the stunning achievement that McIlroy sealed in 2025. “It would be amazing, right, because it’s just a very, very short list in history,” the American said.
Jake Knapp will miss the PGA Championship(Image: Getty)
“So, you know, at the same time winning the PGA itself, you get to then play in the PGA for however long they allow you to. I don’t actually know the rules on the PGA. Is it 60? Forever? Or till you’re possibly asked that maybe we celebrate this as your – the same way Augusta does.
“Just winning this tournament in general would be very special. The Ryder Cup’s been such an important part of my life, and The PGA of America, having my instructor that I’ve been with for pretty much my whole career be a PGA of America professional, so there’s many reasons.”
The 13-time PGA Tour winner has been a firm crowd favourite on the circuit for years and a victory would see Spieth join an exclusive group of just six other players to have achieved the monumental career Grand Slam.
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