Round 2 is underway at the LPGA’s Dana Open! The tournament has already been rocked by unfortunate withdrawals, as Natalie Gulbis has pulled out before even teeing off in Round 1, citing an injury. The details of the injury are still unknown, but as the tournament continues to unfold, injury woes continue to plague the LPGA Tour.

In a stunning turn of events, Stephanie Kyriacou has also been forced to withdraw due to an injury—a double blow problematic for the LPGA Tour. This latest setback marks the second major withdrawal at the current event, leaving two competitors sidelined and fans wondering about the impact on the tournament’s outcome.

Her withdrawal is particularly disappointing, given her exceptional performances this season. The 23-year-old golfer has stepped up her game in her third regular season, with a recent standout outing at the Amundi Evian Championship. She carded an impressive 66-66-67-67, finishing 18 under 266 and securing a second spot on the leaderboard. This achievement earned her $731,723 from the winner’s purse, one of her best-ever battles for supremacy since her rookie year. 

Kyriacou’s success has been a highlight of the season, making her withdrawal more unfortunate. However, her first round at the Dana Open was not up to the standards, as she showed in her last outing at the fourth major. Struggling in Round 1, she finished with a three-over-par 71, tying for T113 on the leaderboard. This uncharacteristic performance may have been a sign of the injury woes that ultimately forced her withdrawal, a disappointing turn of events for the talented golfer.

The 23-year-old’s withdrawal from the LPGA Tour’s Ohio event has left the field even smaller, but the exact injury remains undisclosed. Unfortunately, injuries and medical issues have plagued the ladies’ golf circuit throughout the season, making this incident part of a larger problem. Let’s look at some injuries that have struck the LPGA Tour so far.

The LPGA Tour’s season of struggles

A string of withdrawals has marred the LPGA Tour’s recent events. The fresh one is the fourth major, the Amundi Evian Championship, which saw India’s Diksha Dagar and Ashleigh Buhai pull out due to illness and injury concerns, respectively. Moreover, Lilia Vu also experienced a set of WDs this year due to her back injury.

The Mizuho Americas Open in May saw a stunning 10 players WD citing intestinal issues. Notably, only three of these withdrawals were due to injuries, sparking concerns about a viral infection affecting the other seven players, including defending champion Rose Zhang. The LPGA Tour released a statement revealing that medical professionals had treated several athletes for symptoms related to a viral infection, fortunately without any serious effects. 

As Stephanie Kyriacou’s withdrawal from the LPGA Dana Open highlights the ongoing injury concerns in women’s golf, fans and supporters are left wondering about the impact on the upcoming future. Share your thoughts on how the golf course can address these issues.