With two of its marquee players withdrawing at the last moment, the Atlanta Drive GC had a major roster shake-up. Patrick Cantlay and Lucas Glover‘s names were wiped off from Sunday’s team roster, raising several questions. For Cantlay, TGL was supposed to be a respite from his otherwise complicated season, but his WD came with an emotional admission.

“I’m disappointed to miss today’s @tgigolf match but want to be sure I am 100% before returning to competition,” Cantlay wrote. “I’m looking forward to supporting my @atlantadrivegc teammates as they kick off the new season – can’t wait to get back out there soon!”

While the exact details of Cantlay’s injury are not yet known, and it may unease many, it is expected that the 33-year-old golfer will have sufficient time to cope and recover before the next game on January 7, 2026.

This withdrawal suddenly reshaped Atlanta Drive GC’s roadmap, but the team had Chris Gotterup and Corey Conners as replacements. While Cantlay and Glover were ruled out hours before the match, Justin Thomas’s unavailability had been known for some time because of his microdiscectomy surgery in November. JT continues to recover, and his comeback is slated for sometime in early 2026.

For the Atlanta Drive GC, the loss is beyond just filling a spot. During the debut season, Cantlay was one of the league’s most valuable strategic minds. He helped his team finish with a +13 Hammer points, the best in the league, eventually earning the title of top “Hammer strategist.”But despite the disruption, the team responded with resilience as the last-minute lineup defeated New York Golf Club 6-4. Horschel’s dramatic 37-foot eagle putt on the final hole became the highlight of the match.

For now, Cantlay’s WD is surely a deliberate decision to avoid worsening of the injury. If hampered, it could lead to a lingering issue. With 2026 around the corner, Catnlay’s, whose performance has been under scrutiny, needs to take careful steps.

Throughout 2025, Cantlay struggled.

He remained winless for a third straight season, and couldn’t make the cuts in three of the four majors and was called a “non-factor” by CBS Sports. It wasn’t until a T2 at the TOUR Championship that he could save his face. Interestingly, nearly half of his annual earnings came from that single week (he earned $4.35 M). But all of that went down the drain after his disastrous performance at the Ryder Cup.

Looking ahead, Cantlay’s timeline remains unclear, which raises questions for the inaugural champs.

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What’s next for Atlanta Drive GC – and TGL?

Having won the season opener match, the Atlantans will step on the course on January 7, against The Bay Golf Club. Following that, their next appearance is a month later, on February 3rd, facing Jupiter Links GC. With Cantlay’s undisclosed injury as the looming question, it’s hard to say if he will be present, especially in the January 7 fixture. His Instagram story does slightly point towards a positive direction, though.

Cantlay’s withdrawal fits within a familiar pattern observed in this year’s TGL. Justin Thomas remains out with rehab procedures. Rickie Fowler is another big name who decided to skip the event entirely. The reason? Same – injury. The biggest of all names is Tiger Woods, the man behind the event and the central figure in Jupiter Links GC.

Navigating his seventh back surgery, Woods’s name is also wiped off the rosters. Although he remains with his team, his fans are used to it at this point. All these major changes come amidst several blunders made by the tournament officials and their partner network. For TGL, it’s a time to walk on eggshells.