Bryson DeChambeau withdraws from Arnold Palmer Invitational with hand injury

Defending Arnold Palmer Invitational winner Bryson DeChambeau won't try to defend his title at Bay Hill Club & Lodge this week because of a lingering left hand injury.

DeChambeau won the 2021 event by 1 shot over Lee Westwood for his eighth career PGA Tour victory. DeChambeau withdrew from the API on Monday and will be replaced by Scott Piercy in the field.

In a social media post over the weekend, DeChambeau revealed that he was recovering from a bone bruise in his left hand.

«I've been hitting a lot of balls in the simulator, I've been working hard on my game and working hard on recovery,» DeChambeau said in a video posted to his Twitter account on Monday. «Man, it's a tough decision right now. I have a lot of work to do to get everything back into order for this week, and I just feel that it's too short of time for me to get back playing at 100 percent capacity.

»Right now, I'm at like 90 percent. I just don't want to go out there and hurt myself even more and not be 100 percent ready for the rest of the season. I don't want to come back early and then have to take more time off."

DeChambeau, 28, has competed in only two official PGA Tour events this season, finishing tied for 25th at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and missing the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open in early January. He is 196th in the FedEx Cup standings.

He withdrew from the second round of the Saudi International earlier this month because of left hand and left hip injuries after shooting 3-over 73 in the first round. He later said he was hurt in a fall earlier that week.

DeChambeau said he hopes to make his next start at next week's Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

«As of right now, I just can't risk going out there and have it