Patrick Cantlay & Lucas Glover out of TGL opener as Atlanta Drive GC announce replacements

TGL's second season is set to commence on Sunday, December 28, after its successful debut in 2025. Defending champion Atlanta Drive GC is scheduled to face season 1 runner-up New York GC in the season opener. Latest developments have revealed that the team will play in the opening match without Patrick Cantlay and Lucas Glover.

On December 28, Atlanta Drive GC announced on X that Corey Conners and Chris Gotterup would join the team's lineup alongside Billy Horschel. They also wrote that Cantlay and Glover would not be able to compete due to their injury issues and further stated:

"Atlanta Drive GC and TGL today announced that Chris Gotterup and Corey Conners will join Atlanta Drive GC as alternates alongside Billy Horschel for Match 1... Patrick Cantlay and Lucas Glover are unable to participate in Atlanta Drive GC's opening match due to injury, and teammate Justin Thomas is unavailable due to previously announced back surgery."

Take a look at the X post by Atlanta Drive GC:

In a separate X post, the Atlanta Drive GC also welcomed their season opener alternates, Conners and Gotterup. The team's revised lineup will face New York Golf Club's Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele, and Cameron Young in the TGL's Season 2 opening match on December 28.

Justin Thomas, who underwent back surgery in November 2025, also gave an update on his recovery before the opening match of the second season of TGL.

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Another injured Atlanta GC golfer set to miss TGL Season 2

On December 17, a fan asked Justin Thomas on X about an update on his recovery and how he felt post-surgery. Thomas replied, saying he was doing well.

The Atlanta Drive GC player also hinted that he was still "a bit away from hitting any balls" and wrote on X:

"I’m doing pretty well! Rehab coming along slowly but surely… still a bit away from hitting any balls. Listening to protocols and how I’m feeling is just as/more important than the surgery itself 👊🏽"

Take a look at Thomas' X post:

In another X post from November 22, Thomas also shared how he felt "8 days post surgery." The 32-year-old professional golfer further detailed that he has been instructed to restrict his activities for the first two weeks after microdiscectomy.

Justin Thomas underwent a microdiscectomy in November 2025 after he dealt with nagging back pain issues for months. Due to the back surgery, the former World No. 1's return to TGL and other competitive events remains uncertain.

Edited by Hitesh Nigam