Corey Conners replaces Hideki Matsuyama at Hero World Challenge

Corey Conners will replace the injured Hideki Matsuyama at next week's Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

Matsuyama, who won the Tiger Woods-hosted event in 2016, withdrew from the Dec. 1-4 tournament Tuesday.

Matsuyama also pulled out of the Houston Open in the third round earlier this month, citing a neck injury.

It has been an injury-plagued year for the 2021 Masters champion. The 30-year-old Japanese player also withdrew from The Players Championship in March (back), the 3M Open in July (wrist) and the FedEx St. Jude Championship in August (neck).

Conners, 30, replaces Matsuyama in the 20-player field competing for a $3.5 million purse at the Albany Club.

He becomes the first Canadian player to compete in the Hero World Challenge, established in 2020, according to TSN.

Conners is currently No. 33 in the Official World Golf Rankings. He recorded his only victory on the PGA Tour at the 2019 Valero Texas Open.