Why is Justin Thomas skipping WGC Match Play?

Justin Thomas will not be on the field in the final ever WGC Match Play. He has decided not to participate in the event, which has been canceled for the years following 2023.

He revealed his decision and the reasoning behind it via Golf Monthly. The location of this year's event played a big role in Thomas' decision, as he shared:

"(Innisbrook) is a place I love. I really, really love the golf course. I just I feel like I have a really good chance to win there if I go play. I just, I simply don't feel that way about Austin Country Club. It's nothing against the course; I've just, I've played it six times and I've played it really bad five of them."

He continued, saying that he was at peace with his decision:

“So, I just felt like it was a better decision for me to go to a place where I, at least, had some positivity and felt like I had a lot better chance to win than going to an elevated event, a huge event, being the Match Play, but knowing that I've had no success except for kind of—I would hate to call it a fluke year, but one year. And I didn't really want to take three weeks off before the Masters."

Justin Thomas has made his decision and he has good reasons for it. The venue has not been kind to him and it's important to get playing and feeling well before the Masters, which is coming in a few weeks.

Usually, the Match Play field includes the top 64 in the OWGR. However, since LIV Golf players are not allowed to participate and Thomas and Justin Rose decided not to play, the field includes world number 77 Justin Suh.

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Why is the Match Play being canceled?

Match Play has been a big event for the PGA Tour for a long time, but its time is sadly coming to an end.

Jordan Uppleger, vice president and executive director of PGA Tour Championship Management, said:

“We’re formally announcing today that the 2023 World Golf Championship Dell Technologies Match Play will be the final playing of the event here at Austin Country Club, and not be included on the 2024 calendar or moving forward. The event has had an incredible run here at Austin Country Club.”

He continued that the PGA Tour event had exceeded expectations but was coming to an end regardless:

“I was told you had to have three main components to have a successful event, you had to have an active title sponsor, an engaging country club and a supporting community and client base. And there is no doubt that this event has exceeded all of those expectations as we’ve been here since 2016.”

Scottie Scheffler won the last time out

Justin Thomas won't be in attendance, but the field is stacked. The event will see Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and world no. 1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler in attendance.