The PGA Tour event which Scottie Scheffler is rated ‘unlikely’ to play in after his withdrawal from The Sentry

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Scottie Scheffler will have to wait to get his 2025 PGA Tour season underway after the world number one withdrew from The Sentry.

Scheffler underwent surgery after a freak Christmas Day accident, and it’s believed the American is set for around three to four weeks on the sidelines. Scheffler’s last outing came at the LIV Golf vs PGA Tour ‘Showdown in Las Vegas, where he and Rory McIlroy easily beat Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.

Scheffler is still scheduled to play The American Express on January 16, and it appears he’s committed to playing.

However, CBS pundit and podcaster Rick Gehman isn’t so sure.

Scottie Scheffler predicted to miss The American Express after PGA Tour withdrawal

Speaking on CBS Sports on Friday, Gehman admitted he was concerned by the injury and that a longer recovery time could be required.

“It’s certainly shocking news and there’s a couple of things that jumped right to mind here. We’ve gotten so used to Scottie Scheffler being at the top of leaderboards that he is currently in the midst of a two-year run that, unless your name is Tiger Woods, we have not seen in the modern era,” Gehman said.

“I am a little concerned about the location of it. The palm, the hands and the connection to the golf club is so important to these golfers. I am sure he will take his time to heal up. The report we got was three to four weeks; I would actually rule out The Amex for him; that is 22 days away. Three weeks and one day from Christmas day to Thursday until the American Express. It seems unlikely that he plays that. I assume we will get a cautious return at the AT&T, which will be the next signature event.”

• READ MORE: How Scottie Scheffler got to play Augusta National five times before he even turned pro in ‘weird experience’

Who is the new favourite for The Sentry after Scottie Scheffler’s withdrawal?

Scheffler’s withdrawal from The Sentry has left the first PGA Tour event of the season wide open.

Had the world number one made the field, he would’ve been the red-hot favourite to start 2025 with a victory.

Now, with Scheffler out, Xander Schauffele will likely be well-fancied at The Plantation Course. The number two-ranked player has been working hard on his game during the off-season and will look to start the new year positively.

Elsewhere, a refreshed Justin Thomas could be a threat. The two-time major winner is slowly playing his way back into form, and it feels like a matter of if and not when he returns to the winners’ circle.