PGA Championship 2019: Justin Thomas withdraws from Bethpage with wrist injury

The 2017 champion has failed to recover from a wrist injury suffered at the Honda Classic in March

Former champion Justin Thomas has pulled out of the 2019 PGA Championship with a wrist injury.

Thomas won the title in 2017 at Quail Hollow and contended at The Masters this year, eventually finishing 12th, but a wrist injury has denied him a chance to contend at Bethpage Black.

The injury was suffered in the Honda Classic when he unintentionally struck a tree with his follow-through, with Thomas proclaiming that the club not snapping led to the issue.

The world No 5 announced: “Unfortunately I will be withdrawing from the 101st PGA Championship at Bethpage Black this week as my wrist is not yet fully healed.

“Obviously, as a past champion, this tournament is extra special to me.

“It consistently has the strongest field in golf, and I’m disappointed not to be among those competing this year but I’m optimistic about a return in the future.”

Speaking on the injury, Thomas insists the risk of aggravating the problem was not one he was willing to take.

“I’ve seen too many people come back too early,” Thomas said at his home in Jupiter, Florida. “I plan on doing this successfully for a long time, and I don’t want a dumb decision to set me back.”

“It hurt on a couple of shots and I felt like it wasn’t worth it. I guess I should have chipped out (at the Honda),” he said with a laugh. “I still made bogey, which is worse.”

Thomas admits the rest has not gone down well and that he is suffering with boredom.

“I figured out there’s not a lot do in South Florida if you don’t play golf,” he added.

Justin Thomas has pulled out of the PGA Championship (REUTERS)

American Kelly Kraft replaces Thomas in the field this week where there are four players closely bunched together as the favourites.

Tiger Woods, who triumphed at Augusta this year, Dustin Johnson, defending champion Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy are all hotly-tipped.