Jake Knapp’s strong start to the 2026 PGA Tour season took an unexpected turn on Thursday after he withdrew from the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral before hitting a shot in the opening round.
The 31-year-old American pulled out with a left thumb sprain shortly before his scheduled 12:35 p.m. ET tee time with J.T. Poston. The late withdrawal quickly became one of the main storylines from Doral, especially because Knapp had entered the week as one of the more consistent players on Tour this season.
Knapp had already shown signs of discomfort before tournament play began. He withdrew from Wednesday’s pro-am and was seen with tape on his hand during tournament preparations. By Thursday morning, the issue was serious enough for him to step away from the $20 million Signature event rather than risk making the injury worse.
The PGA Tour confirmed that Knapp withdrew with a left thumb sprain, with Kristoffer Reitan replacing him in the field. Reitan moved into Knapp’s spot alongside Poston, creating a sudden opportunity for the Norwegian at one of the season’s biggest regular-season events.
Why Jake Knapp’s withdrawal matters
A thumb injury may sound minor from the outside, but for a golfer it can be a major problem. The lead hand is central to grip pressure, release, clubface control and impact stability. Even a small sprain can affect timing through the swing, especially on a course like the Blue Monster, where players need full control off the tee and into firm greens.
That context makes Knapp’s decision easier to understand. He has been in excellent form throughout 2026, making eight cuts in nine starts and recording five top-10 finishes. His season has included strong results at events such as the Farmers Insurance Open, WM Phoenix Open, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Genesis Invitational, Houston Open and the Masters.
Those results had pushed Knapp into a much stronger position on the PGA Tour and placed him firmly among the players to watch during the spring stretch. After winning once on Tour earlier in his career, he had been trending toward another serious run at a title.
That is why the timing is frustrating. The Cadillac Championship is not just another stop on the calendar. It is a limited-field Signature event with a $20 million purse, valuable FedExCup points and a strong field. Missing this tournament means Knapp loses a chance to build on his momentum against elite competition.
This is also not his first late withdrawal of the season. Knapp previously pulled out of the Arnold Palmer Invitational shortly before his opening-round tee time. Haotong Li entered the field on that occasion. While there is no confirmed connection between the two withdrawals, the pattern will naturally raise questions about how carefully Knapp’s schedule and fitness need to be managed over the next few weeks.
Reitan gets chance as Koepka waits
Knapp’s exit immediately changed the shape of the field. Kristoffer Reitan, who had been waiting as an alternate, moved into the tournament and took the 12:35 p.m. ET tee time with Poston.
Reitan arrives with momentum of his own. The Norwegian recently tied for second at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside Kris Ventura and also produced a top-10 finish at the Valspar Championship. For a player still building his profile on the PGA Tour, getting into a Signature event can be a major opportunity.
The field movement began earlier in the week when Patrick Cantlay withdrew because of illness. That opened a spot for Michael Thorbjornsen and pushed Reitan higher on the alternate list. Once Knapp withdrew, Reitan was next in line.
The change also moved Brooks Koepka into the first alternate position. Koepka, a five-time major champion, now needs one more withdrawal to enter the Cadillac Championship field. He was in a similar waiting position recently at the RBC Heritage, making his status another subplot around Doral.
For Knapp, the immediate priority is recovery. The PGA Championship is approaching, and hand injuries can become stubborn if a player returns too early. Given his form this season, taking a cautious approach may be the smartest long-term decision.
There is no official indication yet that the injury will keep him out for an extended period. The fact that he remained in the field until Thursday morning suggests he may have been trying to give himself every chance to play. Still, a sprained thumb is not something a golfer can easily ignore once tournament pressure begins.
The Cadillac Championship now moves forward with a changed field and a new opportunity for Reitan, while Knapp’s absence leaves fans wondering how soon one of the Tour’s most consistent early-season performers can return.
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Knapp’s 2026 season has not lost its promise because of one withdrawal, but the timing makes the setback significant. He had built one of the steadier records on Tour through the opening months, and his next start will be watched closely. If the thumb responds well, this may only be a short interruption. If it lingers, it could become a bigger concern during one of the most important stretches of the season.
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