MEDINAH, Ill. --Eight players have withdrawn from the 88th PGA Championship this week.
Bo Van Pelt withdrew Tuesday due to the birth of his third child and was replaced by Bob Estes. Steve Elkington and Mark Hensby both opted out of the season's final major, citing personal reasons. Elkington was replaced by Billy Andrade while Charles Warren stepped in for Hensby.
Chris Starkjohann, who qualified as one of the top 10 finishers at the PGA Professional National Championship, withdrew when he made the field for the Boeing Greater Seattle Classic on the Champions Tour. The 50-year-old was replaced by Harrison Frazar.
Wayne Grady, who won the 1990 PGA Championship, has injured his wrist and withdrawn. Jonathan Byrd has taken the Australian's spot at Medinah. Shingo Katayama is also injured and has been replaced in the field by Joey Sindelar.
When he missed the cut at the British Open last month, Darren Clarke said he was taking an extended break to be with his wife Heather, who was battling breast cancer. She died Sunday at the age of 39.
Another Irishman, Paul McGinley, has also withdrawn to support his close friend and attend the funeral. Clarke was replaced in the PGA Championship field by Craig Barlow while Daniel Chopra took McGinley's spot.
