PGA Tour pro Akshay Bhatia has withdrawn from the Farmers Insurance Open joining a host of big name absentees including Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa at Torrey Pines.
PGA Tour star Akshay Bhatia has become the latest big name to withdraw from this week’s Farmers Insurance Open at famed Torrey Pines.
World No.31 Bhatia joins World No.2 Xander Schauffele and World No.5 Collin Morikawa in bowing out of the field on the eve of the tournament.
Bhatia, a two-time PGA Tour winner, was last week seen playing in the Dubai Desert Classic.
He went on to finish T37.
Bhatia also spent some time filming a hilarious new viral DP World Tour video, which you can watch in full below.
International Presidents Cup player Mackenzie Hughes and European Ryder Cup star Nicolai Hojgaard have also WD from the Farmers Insurance Open along with little known Tyler McCumber.
American trio Hayden Springer, Wesley Bryan and Pierceson Coody, South Korea’s S.H. Kim and South Africa’s Garrick Higgo been named as their replacements in the field.
PGA Tour fans have been left in a state of shock as to why there have been so many WDs from typically one of the circuit’s most sought after events of the season.
The tournament has been established on the PGA Tour since 1954.
“This is turning into the one of the worst Farmers of all time,” wrote one disgruntled PGA Tour fan.
“WTF is happening on the PGA Tour, so many WDs I can’t keep up!” commented another.
Another tweeted: “Probably the s**tiest field this event has ever seen. No wonder Farmers is pulling out as sponsor starting next year.”
Schauffele’s team revealed a “medical issue” was the reason for the two-time major champion’s WD.
It marks the first time in nine straight years that Schauffele has withdrawn from his home San Diego event.
The teams of Morikawa, Bhatia, Hojgaard and Hughes have not confirmed their official reasons for bowing out of the event.
The 2025 Farmers Insurance Open is being played from Wednesday to Saturday.
That’s as to avoid the final round going up against the NFL’s AFC and NFC Championship games.
The occasion will once again be played on North and South Courses of Torrey Pines during the first two days.
The final two stages will therefore in turn be played on the famous south course.
It is sad that Farmers Insurance Co which has been the title sponsor of this festival committed to its leadership recently released a statement that they won’t be renewing their contract as the title sponsor from 2026.
Current European Ryder Cup star Ludvig Aberg and former Masters winners Hideki Matsuyama are now the big names set to feature in the 2025 Farmers Insurance Open.
Two-time Farmers Insurance Open winner and ex-World number one Jason Day will also be a contender for the famed PGA Tour alongside Sungjae Im, Will Zalatoris, Max Greyserman, and Keegan Bradley who was recently appointed U.S Ryder Cup captain for 2025.
The absence of Morikawa and Schauffele in particular at Farmers Insurance Open is another big blow to avoid this for the PGA Tour a runaway World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has not played any golf at all this year 2025.
That is why Scheffler missed the tournament because he injured his hand on the Christmas Day and the next day he needed the surgery.
Scheffler was due to come back at The American Express this week but he said he would not be ready on the eve of the tournament.
The two time major champion and the current FedEx Cup champion is expected to play his first PGA tour event of the year at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro;Am scheduled for January 30 to February 2.