Finau withdraws from Grant Thornton Invitational

Tony Finau pulled out of the Grant Thornton Invitational citing a knee injury on Tuesday, two days before the start of the combined PGA Tour/LPGA event at Naples, Fla.

Finau was scheduled to team with women's world No 1 Nelly Korda after the pair tied for fourth in the tournament last year. Instead, Daniel Berger will enter as an alternate to be partnered with Korda.

"I am disappointed to have to withdraw from the Grant Thornton Invitational as I continue to recover from my knee injury," Finau said in a statement issued by the PGA Tour. "Playing with Nelly in 2023 was one of the highlights of my year. I look forward to cheering her on this week and am thankful for her support and understanding as I work on getting fully healthy."

Finau previously withdrew from last week's Hero World Challenge in Nassau, Bahamas, due to the same ailment. Although he is rumored to be exiting the PGA Tour to join the rival LIV Golf circuit, he maintained that he was merely resting his left knee, on which he had surgery in mid-October.

He told GolfWeek he will be "ready to rock and roll" at the PGA Tour's season-opening The Sentry event, which runs January 2-5 in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Finau, 35, is ranked No 26 in the world. He finished in the top 10 in five events this year, topped by a tie for second at the Houston Open and a tie for third at the US Open at Pinehurst No 2.

He owns six career wins on the PGA Tour, most recently the 2023 Mexico Open.