Ian Poulter was the first high-profile player to send his regrets for the second of two stops on the Texas swing, with 2010 champion Jason Day and 2010 British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen withdrawing as well from the AT&T Byron Nelson.
Jason Day, Ian Poulter back out of rain-soaked Byron Nelson
Jordan Spieth’s chances of winning a third PGA Tour event -- this one on home turf in Dallas -- got a whole lot better on Wednesday, as several big names withdrew from the AT&T Byron Nelson.
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Could it be the flooded TPC Four Seasons Resort course and soggy weather that has players bailing out of Dallas?
First Poulter, then Day, now Louis Oosthuizen out at the Nelson. Seems guys are being extra precautious with wet course & rainy forecast.
— Will Gray (@WillGrayGC) May 27, 2015 Official WD's at the Byron Nelson and reasoning: Poulter (scary thunderstorms) Oosthuizen (dark clouds) Day (forgot rain gear)
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) May 27, 2015 “The golf course is totally under water,” defending champion Brendon Todd said after playing nine practice holes on Tuesday. “Not a dry spot in any fairway.”
Thunderstorms are predicted for all four days of the tournament and that rain will just add to more than nine inches that have already soaked the track in the last week or so, according to PGA Tour meteorologist Stewart Williams.
Lousy weather was not the official reason for any of the dropouts. Poulter blamed a minor workout issue for his decision to skip the tour’s Dallas event.
I will not be competing this week in Texas, I picked up a slight strain in the Gym on Monday, so taking precautions and not chancing it.
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) May 27, 2015 Poulter has enjoyed a robust start to 2015, with eight top-25 finishes in 12 events, including a T5 at last week’s Crowne Plaza Invitational.
I was looking forward to 2 weeks in a row, playing good golf, so disappointing not to keep that going. Next event will be @usopengolf
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) May 27, 2015 If he stays true to a tweet from earlier in the week, Poulter’s regular PGA Tour season is over, though he will be stateside often for the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, FedEx Cup playoffs and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
This is my last regular @PGATOUR event this season outside of the Majors, WGC's and Fedex playoffs. Make it a big week.
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) May 25, 2015 As for Day, who has battled numerous injuries over the last few years, he has curtailed an up-and-down season due to a serious case of vertigo, according to the tour.
Reason for Jason Day's WD @attbyronnelson - he suffered severe dizziness during Wed. pro-am. He's going back home to Ohio to get checked out
— Mike McAllister (@PGATOUR_mikemc) May 27, 2015 Day’s Farmers Insurance Open victory was the subhead of the story that week about Tiger Woods’ first-round withdrawal. He has three additional top-four finishes in 2015 to go along with a missed cut at The Players, a T52 at the WGC-Cadillac Match Play, a T31 at the WGC-Cadillac Championship and a few other so-so results.
For Oosthuizen, who has three missed cuts, three top-nine finishes and a T69 in nine 2015 tour starts, his WD was also ailment-related.
Louis Oosthuizen (neck injury) has also WD'd from the @attbyronnelson. #PGATOUR pic.twitter.com/8V2Dxc2xXv
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 27, 2015 See More:
