Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay have pulled out of Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge. Andrew Novak and Alex Noren will take their spots.
The Hero World Challenge, hosted by Tiger Woods, takes place on December 4, but without Ryder Cup teammates Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. The two are not listed in the final field for the unofficial PGA Tour event. Replacing them are American Andrew Novak, who will make his debut at the event, and Sweden’s Alex Noren, returning for the first time since 2018. The 20-player field is now complete.
PGA Tour: Schauffele and Cantlay miss out again
This marks the second consecutive year that both Schauffele and Cantlay will miss the Hero World Challenge. In 2023, Schauffele cited a need for rest and time away from golf for skipping the event, while Cantlay gave no official reason. This year, no formal explanations have been given either, although Schauffele became a father in September, which may have influenced his decision.
Since September, both players have had limited tournament appearances. Schauffele has only competed in the Baycurrent Classic, where he secured his first win since the 2024 Open. Cantlay has not played any events since the Ryder Cup.
Star-studded field led by Scheffler – but no Tiger Woods
Despite the absence of Schauffele and Cantlay, the Hero World Challenge still boasts a strong field. World No. 1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler headlines the lineup. European interest includes Justin Rose, Robert MacIntyre, and Austria’s Sepp Straka.
Notably missing is tournament host Tiger Woods. When the initial field was announced in early October, there was hope that Woods might return from his Achilles tendon injury suffered in March. However, those hopes were dashed days later when it was revealed that Woods had undergone a third back surgery in just 13 months, ruling him out once again.