[Photo: Icon Sportswire]
Caution or omen? It’s hard to read just yet into the news that Justin Thomas has withdrawn from the upcoming Biltmore Championship Ashville as it pertains to next week’s Presidents Cup.
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Neither Thomas or the PGA Tour released any specifics as to why the two-time major winner dropped out of the event, which is being played for the first time and kicks off the PGA Tour Fall Series. Thomas was one of three US Presidents Cup team members scheduled to play this week ahead of next week’s teams event at Medinah. (The International team has five players competing in Asheville.) He was also the highest-ranked player in the field at No.22.
A captain’s pick for this year’s Presidents Cup, Thomas did take part, according to Golfweek, in a two-day scouting trip to Medinah last week with the rest of the US team, run by US captain Brandt Snedeker. “The team felt it would be beneficial to experience Medinah’s updated layout firsthand,” Snedeker said last month. “Any opportunity to gain familiarity with the course and better understand how it may play in a team competition setting is valuable as we continue preparing for Presidents Cup week.”
Thomas shot a 25-under 263 at Medinah No.3 during the 2019 BMW Championship. Shortly afterwards, the course underwent a dramatic renovation, overseen by International team captain Geoff Ogilvy’s design team at OCM Golf.
Thomas has been replaced in the Asheville field by Cameron Champ.
