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J.J. Spaun’s 2026 Tour Championship came to an early end on Thursday after the golfer withdrew during the opening round because of a shoulder injury. Spaun pulled out after hitting his tee shot on the par-5 sixth at East Lake Golf Club, having gone 4-over through his first five holes with two bogeys and a double bogey.

According to the Golf Channel broadcast, Spaun said the shoulder issue may have stemmed from “a poor sleeping position.” He was later seen being taken away from the course on a golf cart as he ended his campaign at the PGA Tour’s season-ending event.

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J.J. Spaun’s 2026 Tour Championship campaign ended after just five holes on Thursday as the 2025 U.S. Open champion withdrew because of a shoulder injury. Spaun was 4-over par at East Lake Golf Club after making bogeys on the second and fourth holes and a double bogey on the par-4 third. He qualified for the season finale after finishing 22nd in the FedEx Cup standings.

Spaun later explained that he had been dealing with sharp pain around his right shoulder blade since Tuesday. He believed it may have resulted from “a poor sleeping position” and hoped treatment would allow him to compete, but the problem continued to affect his golf swing. He was eventually taken away from the course on a golf cart after deciding not to risk aggravating the injury.

The 36-year-old said he attempted to play through the discomfort but quickly realised he could not compete at his best. “I tried to push through it,” Spaun said. “With the torque and the amount of force in a golf swing, it just doesn’t feel comfortable. I’m nowhere in my game health-wise to be able to compete at the highest level. I just didn’t want to cause any further damage before I assess this correctly and see what’s going on in there.”

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Spaun described the pain as unusually persistent, revealing that it had previously occurred but never lasted this long. “It’s happened to me before, but it’s never persisted this long. Me and my physio, we kind of worked through it and hit some balls Tuesday. It flared up pretty bad. I couldn’t play any holes after hitting balls for about 45 minutes,” Spaun said.

“Wednesday I figured it would be a lot better. It kind of was. I couldn’t move my neck or my head either direction. Took a few sandwich swings yesterday, and it’s just basically like a knife in my right shoulder blade.” He added: “It sucks to end the year this way, but that’s life. I turned 36 last week, and I think maybe that’s just kind of what happens when you’re in your mid-30s now.”

The injury could also have implications for Spaun’s Presidents Cup hopes. He finished 10th in the U.S. standings, outside the six automatic qualifying spots, and remains in consideration for one of Brandt Snedeker’s six captain’s picks. Spaun represented the U.S. at the 2025 Ryder Cup, while the Presidents Cup is scheduled for September 24-27 at Medinah Country Club in Illinois.