KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – The Latest on the PGA Championship (all times local): 7:30 a.m. Francesco Molinari has withdrawn from the PGA Championship.
The 2018 British Open champion cited a back injury in pulling out of the championship Thursday morning. He was replaced in the field by first alternate Brandon Hagy, who has been practicing on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island this week.
Molinari has fallen to 144th in the world. If no one else withdraws, the PGA Championship will have 99 of the top 100, matching the record for most players from the top 100.
___ 7 a.m. South Carolina native Patrick Rada found the middle of the fairway with the opening tee shot in the PGA Championship.