And another one bites the dust. The PLAYERS Championship is set to take off on March 13-16, 2025, at the iconic Players Stadium Course, but the field has already taken a hit. Jason Day, the Australian golf star, has withdrawn from the tournament due to illness. It’s a disappointing turn of events for Day, who was looking to make a strong showing at TPC Sawgrass.

Day’s not the first big golfer who’s not in the field despite being eligible. Ernie Els, the legendary “Big Easy”, is also missing from the 2025 Players Championship lineup. Interestingly, Els had actually qualified for the tournament by winning the Senior Players Championship (also known as the Kaulig Companies Championship) in 2024, but it seems he’s decided to sit this one out.

This withdrawal by Day marks another setback for the 37-year-old, who has struggled to regain his form after a glorious spell in 2015-16, which included eight wins, a Major title, and 51 weeks as World No.1. Injury problems and a loss of form have led to some lean years for Day, and this withdrawal will only add to his frustrations.

But as one door closes, another opens. With Day’s withdrawal, Danny Walker has been added to the field. Walker will look to make the most of his opportunity and capitalize on the momentum of playing in one of the biggest tournaments on the PGA Tour. The Players Championship is shaping up to be an exciting event, with a whopping purse of $25,000,000 up for grabs.

Unfortunately, Day will be missing out on that massive payday, but Walker is ready to step in and take his shot. Fans are visibly shocked and disappointed with the news and many are expressing their thoughts in the comment section.

Netizens are in shock at Jason Day’s decision

One fan commented, “Hate this for J-Day”, while the other one remembered Day’s previous showing, “A few days after API title contention.” Well, it is true. Day indeed made a strong showing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week, finishing at T8 with a score of 15. Day was right below Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who stole the spotlight with an impressive -6 finish, landing him in 7th place in the leaderboard.

Another fan expressed their concern about Day’s health and wrote, “Very unexpected! Hope everything is alright with Jason.” Well, it isn’t surprising that fans are worried about the golfer, given his history with brutal injuries, and also because it is a deja vu moment for them. Back in 2024, Day was struggling with injuries during the same tournament. Although he didn’t withdraw then, his lingering back issues have been a constant concern, and it’s clear that he’s still putting in a lot of work to manage the pain. In an interview last year, Day revealed the extent of his daily routine, saying, “Every day I’ll have… there’s hiccups along the way… I cold plunge, sauna, and cold plunge every morning, and I’ll probably cold plunge today just to stay on top of it.” 

“SAD I was so pumped for JD to be in Jordy’s group, will miss the fits”, another fan wrote. Well, Day isn’t the only big name missing from the 2025 PLAYERS Championship lineup. Tiger Woods, a two-time Players Championship winner, has also withdrawn from the tournament, extending his absence from official PGA Tour events since missing the cut at The Open last July. Woods’ decision comes after the recent passing of his mother, Kultida, and he’s been open about not feeling up to practicing, saying “My heart is not into it right now”. One fan said something that perfectly sums up the golf world’s reaction to the news as they wrote “Yikes.” Well, that was what fans on the internet think but what are your thoughts on Day’s unexpected announcement? Let us know in the comment section below!

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