Copyright Essentially Sports
The PGA Tour’s fall leg has now moved to Mexico. The World Wide Technology Championship is set to tee off at El Cardonal at Diamante. The temperature is warm, sunny, and dry, perfect for a good round of golf. Yet, the roster seems to be emptying itself. Three players, Aaron Wise, Si Woo Kim, and Mac Meissner, have all pulled out just hours before the opening round of the $6M event. Unlike Aaron Wise, the reason for the other withdrawals remains unclear. Aaron withdrew because of his back injury, and his absence will be the most notable. Wise was once viewed as golf’s brightest young star. He was the 2018 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, and the future seemed all set. But for the last few years, his mental and physical battles have been immense. It was this same event, where he finished runner-up in 2021 with 19-under par. But now, he has struggled to find form, currently ranked 224th in the FedExCup, with only six points collected this season. This particular back injury has been bothering him since 2023. He’s had hip mobility issues and lower back pain, which exacerbated his mental health struggles—the reason for his Master’s withdrawal. In August, too, he had withdrawn from the Wyndham Championship after the second round. This was for Aaron, but why did others withdraw? ADVERTISEMENT Highly unlikely, though, but maybe, Si Woo Kim also withdrew because of a back injury. He had to leave this year’s Travelers Championship in June because of back issues. Otherwise, he has been fit, with multiple top-10 finishes and a T14 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Will this decision affect Kim’s standings? The five-time PGA Tour winner is currently sitting 37th on the FedExCup standings. That means he’s well within next year’s limited 100-player field for the events. But his absence might push him further down from the top-50 ranks. Then there’s Mac Meissner. His withdrawal, too, is surprising. Just months ago, he registered a career-best 2nd finish at the Wyndham Championship. The PGA Tour did not provide any reason for his withdrawal. ADVERTISEMENT All in all, notable players will be missed from this event. But their exits have opened doors for others. Two-time winner on PGA Tour Canada Hayden Springer, veteran Vince Covello, and rookie Kevin Velo will be entering the field as alternatives. But the fans need not worry. Despite these last-minute changes, the Mexican event remains a high-stakes one. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports ADVERTISEMENT Star lineup at the 2025 World Wide Technology Fans still have Ben Griffin to watch for. He’s the tournament’s ambassador and one of the highest-ranked players, at 12th. This will be his fourth straight appearance, where, in 2023, he gave his best finish of T23. Defending champion Austin Eckroat is also returning. He’s only the second, since Scottie Scheffler, to win multiple PGA Tour events in the same calendar year. This youth movement will continue with Michael Brennan, who will be making his Tour debut. The 23-year-old Utah Championship winner has been dominating headlines after he became the first player since 1970 to win on the PGA Tour within his first three career starts. Colombia’s Nico Echavarria is also arriving with two top-10s this season, including a runner-up finish in Hawaii. At last, fans will also see JJ Spaun, this year’s Ryder Cup member and the US Open champ. He comfortably sits in the top 10 of the OWGR at number 6. In fact, seven of the world’s top 60 are going to be in the field, including Wyndham Clark and Nick Taylor. But again, only if no further last-minute withdrawals mar the event.
