Jason Day withdraws from Franklin Templeton

A week before he was slated to defend his title, defending champion Jason Day withdrew from the Franklin Templeton Shootout on Tuesday.

Day won the 12-team tournament with Cameron Tringale last year at Tiburon Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, then went on to the best year of his career, including winning his first major, the PGA Championship. Day and his wife, Ellie, had their second child, Lucy, on Nov. 11.

"Regrettably, I am withdrawing from the 2015 Franklin Templeton Shootout to stay in Ohio with my family and newborn daughter Lucy," Day said in a press release. "Our win in 2014 was the beginning of an incredible run for me and I hope I can return to compete in the event in the future."

This year's tournament is Dec. 7-12, with pro-ams the first two days.

Chris Kirk, a late withdrawal from the Shootout a year ago, will replace Day next week, and play with Tringale. Kirk, the 2014 FedEx Cup runner-up, withdrew the week of the tournament last year after suffering a wrist injury and was replaced by Patrick Reed.

Day withdrew from the Hero Challenge, Tiger Woods' event that's this week, back on Nov. 20. The No. 2 player in the world has not played since the Presidents Cup.

Kirk, a four-time PGA Tour winner, won this year's Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Kirk, currently 41st in the world, was also a member of the victorious United States team at the Presidents Cup in October.

Day's withdrawal wasn't the only change for the event. Tournament founder and host Greg Norman, who had planned to play in the two pro-ams, underwent right shoulder surgery on Oct. 26. He posted a picture after the operation of him in his hospital bed with his right shoulder wrapped. The procedure was Norman's 13th, and Norman will still be the analyst for Fox's final-round coverage.

"A successful and hopefully lucky last surgery #13 I hope!" Norman, 60, wrote in the caption on his Instagram page. "Do not let the smile fool you. Those are the drugs. Back at it in 4-6 months!"

Other Shootout teams are: Harris English-Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson-Patrick Rodgers, Graeme McDowell-Gary Woodland, Daniel Berger-Charley Hoffman, Billy Horschel-Hunter Mahan, Sean O'Hair-Mike Weir, J.B. Holmes-Patrick Reed, Retief Goosen-Danny Lee, Kenny Perry-Steve Stricker, Charles Howell III-Rory Sabbatini, Jason Dufner-Brandt Snedeker.

The Shootout will again feature a different format during each of the three competitive rounds: scramble (Thursday), modified alternate shot (Friday) and better ball (Saturday).

This article was written by Greg Hardwig from Naples Daily News, Fla. and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.