The field for the Texas Children’s Houston Open is shrinking. Matt McCarty is the latest name to withdraw from the $9.9 million event just a day after four fellow PGA Tour pros.
In the wake of the Houston-based event’s first player sign-in deadline on Friday at 5:00 p.m., the field saw several notable changes.
Four players withdrew on March 22 and were subsequently replaced, as confirmed by PGA TOUR Communications. McCarty joined them on March 23.
“Matt McCarty (WD), Doug Ghim (IN),” read Monday evening’s release. McCarty, who had a T24 finish at The Genesis and a T2 at The American Express, is ranked 44th in the Official World Golf Rankings.
The 28-year-old’s departure is just one among several recent professional exits from this tournament. His exit follows a busy Sunday that saw four other players withdraw, including Austin Smotherman and Michael Kim (54th in the OWGR).
Austin Smotherman, Cam Davis, Ryo Hisatsune, and Michael Kim were replaced by Danny Willett, Jimmy Stanger, Paul Waring, and Jesper Svensson. Michael Kim’s withdrawal is notable due to his previous T18 finish at the WM Phoenix Open.
To keep the tournament schedule organized, officials stated, “Field expanded from 133 players to 135 to round out threesomes.” This allowed Andrew Putnam and Kris Ventura to join the field.
A Familiar Trend of Pre-Tournament Departures
Most likely, it is a result of the Tour’s grueling schedule, which requires players to balance competing and resting to safeguard their health.
McCarty’s withdrawal allows world No. 179 Doug Ghim to compete. Ghim looks to build on recent T26 performance at the Puerto Rico Open to regain the form that propelled him to a career-high ranking of 90th.
The Official World Golf Ranking influences these choices. Players may elect to withdraw if they consider a given course incompatible with their game, or if they are defending their ranking for future major opportunities.
Ryo Hisatsune, ranked 63rd, finished T13 at THE PLAYERS Championship, which concluded on March 15 before his departure here.
For alternates who are entering the field, such as Andrew Putnam and Kris Ventura, receiving a call to play this late is a high-stakes chance. They now have to quickly adjust to the course in Houston before the 72-hole event begins.