Looks like the 2025 Rocket Classic is following a similar trend to the 2025 Travelers Championship. For what, you ask? Well, look at the number of WDs! The next PGA Tour event has yet to kick off, however, it has already seen several notable names walking out of the tournament. The trend started with Christiaan Bezuidenhout, and then a flurry of other golfers withdrew in the following days. And as per the latest PGA Tour update, another golfer has joined that list.

Before Tony Finau, whose net worth reaches a spectacular $45M, walked out of the event, Tim Widing, Eric Cole, Kevin Yu, Brandon Matthews, and Charley Hoffman walked out of the event. Paul Waring, Harrison Endycott, Anders Albertson, David Ford, and Hayden Springer will replace these five golfers, respectively.

However, when it comes to Finau, neither Finau nor the PGA Tour has provided a reason for the withdrawal; although it is indeed true that this announcement has certainly shocked and disappointed the golf world. As per the same update, Joseph Bramlett will replace Tony Finau on the field. Sure, Finau has just one top-10 finish in 16 starts this season; however, the absence of the 2022 Rocket Classic winner will be felt.

Moving on from that, and given a lack of explanations from the American circuit, the only question remains: What is going on at the PGA Tour? Of course, if you keep in mind the 2025 Travelers Championship and the flurry of withdrawals from there, you will ask the same question. Several top names, such as Jordan Spieth, Matti Schmid,  and Eric Cole, among others, withdrew from the TPC River Highlands event.

Despite this worrying trend, however, the 2025 Rocket Classic will still be graced with several top Tour players, including a former LIV golfer.

James Piot will be at the 2025 Rocket Classic among the Tour pros

James Piot, the 2021 U.S. Amateur champion, has joined the field for the 2025 Rocket Classic at Detroit Golf Club. At 26, Piot becomes the first former LIV player to receive a sponsor exemption on the PGA Tour. He last competed on the PGA Tour in 2022, missing the cut at both the Masters and the U.S. Open, and hasn’t played in a LIV event since 2023, which makes him eligible for this tournament. After recent field adjustments, Piot will make his first PGA Tour start in over three years, returning to his home state of Michigan.

And, considering the purse size for this Tour event, Piot will be competing for a lot of money with the Tour pros. The 2025 Rocket Classic features a purse of $9.6M, an increase of $400,000 from 2024. Additionally, the winner will take home $1,728,000, surpassing the 2024 winner’s payout, $1,656,000. Given the payout, a lot of top players will be present on the field, including Cam Davis.

Aside from him, Ben Griffin is a strong contender with a win and three top-10 finishes in his last five starts. Harry Hall has five consecutive top-25 finishes, including a T9 at the Travelers, and his sharp short game will be vital in a low-scoring environment. Keegan Bradley, fresh off a win at the Travelers, boasts consistent form and ranks first in strokes gained around the green, making him a favorite in a weaker field.

Lastly, Andrew Putnam, who tied for sixth in Canada and has demonstrated the ability to shoot low scores, making him an interesting each-way option despite limited Rocket Classic experience. So, these and more people are James Piot’s competitors at his first PGA Tour event in years. Which one is yours?