MELBOURNE (Bloomberg) -- Golfer Hal Sutton withdrew from the U.S. Presidents Cup team after the death of his father-in-law, the U.S. PGA tour said.
The 40-year-old Sutton told tournament organizers today that he needed to return to the Unites States to attend to the death of Brandt Powell, his father-in-law.Sutton, who would have made his Presidents Cup debut, qualified for the 12-man team by his U.S. tour earnings over the past two years. He won the season-ending U.S. PGA Tour Championship last month, five weeks after winning the Texas Open.
"All of us on the U.S. team are saddened by Hal and his family's loss and extend our deepest sympathies," U.S. Captain Jack Nicklaus said in a statement.
Lee Janzen, who finished 13th in the U.S. standings, will replace Sutton.