Tony Finau withdraws (again) from mixed PGA Tour-LPGA event

When to Grant Thornton Invitation starts Friday morning in Florida, world no Nelly Korda there will be a last minute replacement teammate.

The PGA Tour released a statement Wednesday evening announcing it Tony’s controversyKorda’s initial partner for the mixed tag team event was forced to withdraw from the event less than 48 hours before it was due to start due to recovering from an injury.

Finau also withdrew late from last week’s World Hero Challenge, which inspired wild speculation that he was leaving the PGA Tour to sign with LIV Golf, rumors he eventually dismissed, revealing that he had recently an operation on the left knee.

Perhaps to prevent more rumours, the PGA Tour announcement included a statement from Finau explaining his decision to withdraw due to his ongoing recovery from his knee injury. Finau also noted that “playing with Nelly (Korda) in 2023 was one of the highlights of my year,” and thanked him for understanding why he had to retire.

He ended on a note saying he’s looking forward to “getting back into competition in the new year.”

You can read Finau’s statement in full below.

“I am disappointed to have to withdraw from the Grant Thornton Invitational as I continue to recover from my knee injury. Playing with Nelly in 2023 was one of the highlights of my year. I look forward to cheering her on this week and am grateful for her support and understanding as I work to get fully healthy. I am grateful to my partner at Grant Thornton for their support and for diversifying our game by bringing the PGA Tour and LPGA together in Naples. I can’t wait to get back to racing in the new year.”