World's No.1 golfer withdraws to focus on hand rehab

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has withdrawn from the American Express golf tournament to focus on rehabbing a hand injury that kept him off the course for The Sentry last week.

Scheffler announced on Monday (Tuesday AEDT) on his Instagram story that his 2025 season debut remains on hold, targeting the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which is scheduled to begin on January 30.

"After consulting with my medical team, I have made the decision to withdraw from next week's American Express tournament to give my injury more time to heal," he said.

"I am still hopeful to begin my 2025 season at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am."

Scheffler's hand injury - a puncture wound from glass incurred while preparing a meal on Christmas Day, according to his manager - required surgery to remove fragments of glass. A full recovery was expected within four weeks.

The American Express is played from January 16-19 in La Quinta, California.

Scheffler won eight times on the PGA Tour last year, claimed the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and won the PGA Tour Player of the Year award for a third consecutive year.

He finished tied for sixth at the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.