Just a day after Jordan Spieth stunned fans with a rare mid-round withdrawal from the 2025 Travelers Championship—the first in his nearly 300-event PGA Tour career—the hits keep coming. Another notable name has now exited the field, sending fans into a frenzy once again. This time, it’s not just the surprise of the withdrawal, but who it is: a former PLAYERS Champion, known for moments of brilliance and equally for physical fragility.

That player? Si Woo Kim, who, once again, finds himself on the sidelines, this time after a tough stretch at TPC River Highlands and a re-aggravated back injury. Kim carries a reputation for battling through pain, but his recurring injury history finally caught up with him again. His exit underscores a growing concern across the Tour: just how many elite players are pushing their limits week after week, and at what cost?

Kim’s departure, confirmed during Round 2, has cast an even larger shadow over the week in the town of Cromwell. The PGA TOUR Communications team confirmed the news directly via X on Friday: “Si Woo Kim is a WD with a back injury during the second round of the Travelers Championship.” It marked the second time this season that Kim has withdrawn mid-event due to back pain—the first came in May at the Wells Fargo Championship. In fact, his chronic back problems have caused multiple mid-tournament exits throughout his PGA Tour tenure, including as early as 2017, just after he won The PLAYERS Championship.

Kim had opened at TPC River Highlands with an even-par 71, sitting T-51 after a mixed Round 1. He looked strong early, going 2-under on the front nine, but stumbled on the back nine with a +3. While his score technically kept him in the mix, the physical toll proved too much. By the 12th hole of Round 2, Kim was five-over on the day and officially withdrew, joining Spieth on the sidelines.

The two back-to-back withdrawals have quickly shifted the tone of the tournament. And Spieth’s own exit was just as unexpected, and in some ways, even more significant.

Spieth’s first-ever PGA Tour withdrawal

Jordan Spieth’s early exit from the 2025 Travelers Championship made headlines for more than just his stature. It marked the first withdrawal of his PGA Tour career in 297 starts—a rarity in today’s game, particularly for someone with his track record of resilience. Spieth began Round 1 in rough form, sitting +5 through 12 holes with no birdies and five bogeys. On the 13th tee, he pulled out, citing intense discomfort in his upper back and neck region. The Associated Press later reported that Spieth experienced tightness around his shoulder blade, describing the injury as sudden and unexplained. He noted the pain was already noticeable on the range that morning and only worsened with each hole.

“I may have just slept wrong… It was very random,” Spieth told reporters after the round. Despite stretching, massage therapy, and attempts to play through the discomfort, he ultimately called it quits, saying, “I didn’t really know what to do. It just became too much.” Spieth left with no FedExCup points and last-place prize money. While not in contention at the time, his departure left a noticeable void—not just for the leaderboard, but for fans expecting a showdown from one of the sport’s biggest names.