The Charles Schwab Challenge gets underway later this week in Fort Worth, Texas.
Colonial Country Club is the host of the second part of what is known as ‘The Texas Two-Step’, after last week’s offering at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney.
However, the golf course at the Charles Schwab Challenge will represent a far greater test for the players than TPC Craig Ranch did last week.
The field is stacked with big names, despite some notable Texan absentees including Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth.
Justin Thomas, Ludvig Aberg and Hideki Matsuyama headline the field in Fort Worth this week.
However, one huge name who was due to play has now withdrawn.
Brooks Koepka withdraws from the Charles Schwab Challenge
Koepka has played so much golf this season and he clearly feels like he needs a break.
The 36-year-old American will not be teeing it up at Colonial Country Club this week after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge on Monday, as confirmed via the PGA Tour’s media hub.
Koepka has played 11 events already this season and, while his form has been decent, he only has one top 10 finish to his name.
Perhaps a rest is what Koepka needs.
Sometimes in golf, you can work ‘too hard’ on your game and some time away can actually be what is required.
Brooks Koepka will be at the US Open in three weeks’ time, so he will probably want to play at least one PGA Tour event before now and then.
However, missing this week in Fort Worth, Texas, will allow him to spend a week at home with his family, and that might be just what he needs.
Why no replacement has been named for Brooks Koepka at the Charles Schwab Challenge
When Koepka rejoined the PGA Tour in January, one of the stipulations was that he wouldn’t be taking anyone’s place in the field at the events he played in.
In fact, even more players got opportunities than they would have before.
Whenever Koepka entered an event, the field was automatically enlarged by two spots.
When Koepka was entered to play in the Charles Schwab Challenge this week, the field rose from 132 to 135.
However, now that he has withdrawn, those extra two places that were originally designated have been taken away, as well as his own spot.
So the field for the Charles Schwab Challenge is now back down to 132 spots, as it would have been originally.
