The 2025 U.S. Open champion left East Lake Golf Club during Round 1 after struggling to complete his swing.
J.J. Spaun, the 2025 U.S. Open champion and world No. 16, withdrew from the 2026 Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta on Thursday, August 27, 2026, during the first round because of a right shoulder injury. Spaun stopped after five holes at 4-over par and was taken off the course in a golf cart, ending his participation in the PGA Tour's season-ending event. The withdrawal came during the opening round of the FedExCup Playoffs finale, a tournament limited to the top 30 players in the season-long standings.
Spaun had entered the week 22nd in the FedExCup standings following a 22nd-place finish at the BMW Championship, the second leg of the playoffs. His early exit from East Lake instead locks in a 30th-place finish for the week, though he will still collect the tournament's last-place payout of $355,000 despite not completing his opening round.
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Pain Emerged Two Days Before First Round
According to Spaun's own account, relayed through a Golf Channel interview, the trouble began on Tuesday of tournament week, two days before Thursday's opening round. He told Golf Channel he woke up with sharp pain near his right shoulder blade and initially suspected the cause was a poor sleeping position rather than any acute injury from competition.
Spaun said he hoped treatment in the days leading up to Thursday would ease the discomfort enough to allow him to compete at full strength. He reported some improvement in general mobility following treatment, but the pain returned forcefully whenever he attempted to generate power in his golf swing, particularly with longer clubs. Even lighter swings with a sand wedge reportedly felt, in his words, "like a knife" in the shoulder blade.
A Difficult Start Turns Into an Early Exit
Spaun teed off in a two-man pairing alongside Min Woo Lee for the first round at East Lake. He opened with a par on the first hole, suggesting a stable start despite the lingering shoulder concern. That stability did not last.
He followed with a bogey on the par-4 second hole, then a double bogey on the third, and another bogey on the fourth. By the time he finished the fifth hole, Spaun stood at 4-over par for his round. Multiple outlets, including Golf Channel, USA Today, Heavy.com and Last Word on Sports, confirm he withdrew after five holes, while a Field Level Media report cited four holes — a minor discrepancy amid otherwise consistent reporting. Broadcast footage showed Spaun and his caddie leaving the course in a golf cart near the sixth hole.
PGA Tour rules official Mark Dusbabek relayed the news during the Golf Channel broadcast, telling commentators that Spaun was withdrawing because of a shoulder injury. Dusbabek noted at the time that he did not yet have specific details on the nature or severity of the issue, leaving the exact medical diagnosis unconfirmed in the immediate aftermath of the withdrawal.
Consequences for the FedExCup Standings and Presidents Cup Hopes
Spaun's withdrawal carries direct consequences for his season-ending FedExCup finish. By not completing the round, he finalizes in 30th place in the season-ending event, the last position in the 30-man field, while still receiving the corresponding payout of $355,000.
The timing is notable given Spaun's broader competitive goals. According to Last Word on Sports, Spaun had hoped a strong showing at East Lake would strengthen his case for a spot on the United States Presidents Cup team. His injury-forced exit cuts short that opportunity, though no formal statement from Presidents Cup selectors has been reported in connection with the withdrawal.
Min Woo Lee, Spaun's playing partner for the round, was left to continue alone following the withdrawal, both for the remainder of Thursday's round and the rest of the tournament.
No Immediate Diagnosis as Season Concludes Early
As of the initial reporting, no formal medical diagnosis — such as a strain or tear — had been publicly disclosed. Spaun indicated he did not feel fit to compete at a high level and wanted to avoid worsening the injury before undergoing a proper medical evaluation.
Neither the PGA Tour nor Golf Channel issued additional medical updates beyond confirming the shoulder injury in the hours following the withdrawal. Spaun's immediate plans for evaluation and recovery, along with any timeline for his return, remain unconfirmed as coverage of the incident continues to develop.
