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Travelers Championship Hit by Another Star Withdrawal

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports | By Ajayi Segun | Last updated Jun 22, 2025 3:13 PM ET

Viktor Hovland pulled out of the 2025 Travelers Championship on Sunday after playing just two holes in his final round. He stopped because of a neck injury at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.

Neck Injury Stops Hovland’s Bid For Top Finish

Hovland showed signs of discomfort right from the first tee. He made par on the first hole, then bogeyed the second. After that, he walked off the course. His decision ended a strong week that had him close to the top 10 heading into the final round.

Hovland shot a 7-under 63 on Saturday and looked ready to make a push. The 27-year-old Norwegian star had a real chance to climb the leaderboard and take home a solid payday from the $20 million purse. However, his injury stopped him short and cost him a top finish in the PGA Tour’s final signature event of the season.

“Viktor Hovland withdrew during the final round of the Travelers Championship with a neck injury,” The PGA Tour announced on their official X account.

Viktor Hovland withdrew during the final round of the Travelers Championship with a neck injury.

— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) June 22, 2025

The 27-year-old arrived in Connecticut in great form. Just one week earlier, Hovland finished third at the U.S. Open at Oakmont. He now sits at No. 22 in the FedEx Cup standings and already owns a PGA Tour win this season, which came at the Valspar Championship in March.

Hovland will now look to recover with the next major, The Open Championship, just a few weeks away. For now, he leaves the Travelers early, ending what had looked like another promising week.

Hovland Joins Speith, Kim and Cole on Injury List

Hovland becomes the fourth player to leave the tournament early. Jordan Spieth was the first player to withdraw. The 31-year-old felt pain in his neck and upper back during the opening round on Thursday. He tried to fight through it but couldn’t continue. The pain worsened by the 13th hole, and he left the course. Spieth’s exit marked the first withdrawal in his long PGA Tour career. His decision stunned fans, many of whom had come to watch him play.

Si Woo Kim followed on Friday. He began the second round but struggled early. After a bogey on the 12th hole, he stopped playing. Kim has dealt with back issues before, and this latest flare-up forced him out of the event. His early departure removed another strong contender from the tournament.

On Sunday morning, Eric Cole pulled out before the final round. He stood at six-under-par and looked sharp all week. But illness struck overnight, and he couldn’t tee it up. Cole’s withdrawal came at a tough moment, as he had a real shot at a strong finish. He had played well and showed good form, but his condition left him with no choice.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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