Former champ J.B. Holmes (back) WDs from Wells Fargo

J.B. Holmes and Andrew Putnam withdrew Thursday from the Wells Fargo Championship with back injuries.

Holmes, the 2014 tournament champion, withdrew before the start of the first round and was replaced in the field by Austin Cook.

Putnam pulled out after shooting 7 over par through 15 holes, including bogeys on each of his last four holes.

Holmes finished at 14 under when he won the 2014 title at Quail Hollow Golf Club in Charlotte, N.C., beating Jim Furyk by one stroke.

Holmes, 41, has won five times on the PGA Tour, most recently at the 2019 Genesis Open. He has missed the cut in six of his eight events in 2023, including the last three.

Putnam, 34, secured his only PGA Tour victory at the 2018 Barracuda Championship.

Cook, 32, tied for 39th last week at the Mexico Open.