World No. 1 Jason Day pulled out of his charity exhibition match against Rory McIlroy in Manila because of a back injury that forced him to also withdraw from several tournaments this year.
Day was advised by his physician to rest until 2017 after tearing a ligament in his back last month.
Day, whose mother is Filipino, was set to play against former No. 1 McIlroy in Pampanga on Nov. 29.
“I’m quite saddened about missing our trip to the Philippines. I was planning on taking my Mom back to her home in the Philippines to visit where we lost members of our family in the typhoon,” said Day in a statement. “We are going to raise much needed funds for the worthy causes brought on by this disaster and I look forward to being there in 2017 to help get this work done.”
“We fully respect Mr. Day’s decision to withdraw from the match and we are one with his family, friends, and fans in hoping for his recovery. We are working round the clock to determine a suitable replacement for Jason and give Filipino golfing fans a match they deserve,” said organizing Dolphin Fire president Miguel Bitanga.