FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- Justin Thomas withdrew from the PGA Championship on Monday due to a wrist injury.
The 2017 PGA champ also missed the Wells Fargo Championship two weeks ago due to the same issue. He tied for 12th last month at the Masters.
Thomas was replaced in the field by Kelly Kraft.
"I've seen too many people come back too early,'' Thomas told The Associated Press from his home in Jupiter, Florida. "I plan on doing this successfully for a long time, and I don't want a dumb decision to set me back.''
He said he could have played the PGA Championship this week at Bethpage Black, but without guaranteeing there wouldn't be a setback.
Ranked fifth in the world, Thomas, 26, has nine PGA Tour victories. His best result this season was second at the Genesis Open in February. He also finished third in the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
Thomas injured his wrist and shoulder while hitting a tree when trying to hit a shot at the Honda Classic in March.
He told The Associated Press that he started hitting 50 balls a day over the weekend and was up to a 5-iron on Sunday. His plan was to try to driver on Monday, play a full 18 holes at home on Tuesday and then fly up to Bethpage on Wednesday.
"It hurt on a couple of shots and I felt like it wasn't worth it,'' he said.