Kuchar withdraws from PGA

Louisville - There was a player withdrawal from the 96th PGA Championship on Thursday due to back pain, but it was not Tiger Woods who pulled out.

American Matt Kuchar pulled out of the year's final major tournament a Valhalla Golf Club due to back issues, tournament officials announced Thursday.

Woods had been questionable for the tournament after withdrawing from Sunday's final round of a World Golf Championships event, but practiced without pain Wednesday and teed off Thursday morning.

US alternate John Huh replaced Kuchar in the field of 156, teeing off on the back nine alongside a pair of major winners, 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose of England and South African Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion.

World numbr six Kuchar won the Heritage tournament in April, rallying from six shots down on the final day, and was fourth two weeks ago at the Canadian Open.

Robert Garrigus, another American, moved to the top of the alternates list.