US PGA Championship: Matt Kuchar withdraws due to back problem
Last Updated: 08/08/14 11:43am
Matt Kuchar was a late withdrawal from the US PGA Championship after suffering back spasms ahead of the first round.
The 36-year-old American was replaced in the field of 156 by his compatriot John Huh.
Huh, who is ranked 111th in the world, teed off alongside South African Louis Oosthuizen and England’s Justin Rose at 14.05 (BST) at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.
World No 6 Kuchar is yet to win a major but has seven PGA Tour victories to his name and is currently fourth in the FedEx Cup rankings after a consistent season which includes a victory at the RBC Heritage in April.
He has already qualified for the US Ryder Cup team so his injury will be another concern for captain Tom Watson following Tiger Woods’ recent problems, the absence of Dustin Johnson and the injury worries over Jason Dufner.