Luke Donald will not defend his title in the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic due to a scheduled medical procedure for one of his children.
IMG released a statement Monday citing the scheduling conflict, but did not describe what the medical procedure was. Donald and his wife, Diane, have two young daughters.
Donald won last year’s event at Disney, the final tournament on the official PGA Tour calendar, to capture the money title and eventual Player of the Year honors.
“I’m very sorry that I will be unable to defend my title at this year’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic as that tournament was an important highlight for me in 2011,” Donald said in the release. “My career as a golfer places many demands on my schedule, and I’m often forced to miss some precious time with my family as I travel to play around the world, but in this case, home is where I have to be.”