BREAKING: Kyler Messner and Will Eyman Withdraw from Donatos Shootout

In a stunning late-week twist, the DGA Tour will be without two of its most intriguing competitors this weekend. Kyler Messner—season leader, two-time major winner, and Grand Slam hopeful—has officially withdrawn from the Donatos Shootout due to a lingering back injury. Joining him on the sidelines is Will Eyman, who also withdrew late Friday evening due to personal obligations.

Messner’s absence will send shockwaves through the standings. The Tour’s winningest player this season, Messner was fresh off a masterful victory at the Westchester Wildcard—his second major of the year—and entered the Donatos Shootout as the +250 favorite. He leads the league in total wins, par percentage (106), and boasts a tour-best 78.25 scoring average. His decision to withdraw was reportedly made in the interest of long-term health after his back tightened earlier in the week.

Eyman, meanwhile, was riding a wave of momentum after tying Messner for the net lead last week and climbing into fourth place in the standings. Though he handed the win to Messner out of sportsmanship at Westchester, his performance put the rest of the Tour on notice. His sudden absence removes one of the field’s most volatile wildcards—equal parts birdie-chaser and triple-machine—from contention.

The withdrawals drop the Donatos Shootout field to 10 players, but the stakes remain sky high. With Messner’s grip on the standings vulnerable and Eyman’s spot up for grabs, players like Jack Spence, Auston Sorg, Trevor Monk, Harry Gilmore, and Shea McGuire now have a golden opportunity to vault up the leaderboard. And with Donatos Pizza fueling the field pre-round, no one will be short on motivation.

The Tour’s best won’t be teeing it up this weekend—but a new contender just might be born.

The DGA Tour is proudly sponsored by Haywood Golf.