Procore Championship in Napa Valley Feels Different This Year
The Procore Championship in Napa Valley usually signals a fresh start on the PGA Tour calendar. As the first of seven FedExCup Fall events, it offers players outside the top 50 a chance to earn points toward eligibility for the 2026 season. But this year’s edition carries a different tone due to the absence of three notable names.
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Xander Schauffele Welcomes New Chapter at Home
The biggest talking point is the absence of Xander Schauffele, reigning PGA and Open Champion. After a decorated 2024 season, the American is taking a break to spend time with his wife, Maya, and their newborn son, Victor.
Schauffele had hinted before Victor’s arrival that he might skip Napa depending on timing and mental readiness. The 2025 season has already been tough on him: a rib injury delayed his start by two months, and while he’s made every cut since returning, his performances have been steady rather than spectacular. Missing the TOUR Championship for the first time in his nine-year career was especially disappointing, though his Ryder Cup standing at No. 3 remains safe thanks to last year’s success.
However, his decision not to play could have consequences. The Procore Championship is often treated as a Ryder Cup tune-up, and U.S. Captain Keegan Bradley had emphasized wanting the full team present. With Schauffele absent, questions about his role and form continue to grow—especially since he’s been criticized as the “weakest link” on the squad. Notably, he has never played at Procore before.
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Kevin Yu’s Struggle for Consistency
Kevin Yu, winner of the 2024 Sanderson Farms Championship, is also not in the field. Unlike Schauffele, Yu’s absence is tied to poor form. His 2025 season has been marked by inconsistency, with just four top-20 finishes in 24 starts and several missed cuts at major events including The Open, 3M Open, and Wyndham Championship.
A third-place finish at the RBC Canadian Open was his lone highlight, but it was overshadowed by equipment issues and further withdrawals midseason. Currently ranked 63rd in the FedEx Cup, Yu still hasn’t found a rhythm. Skipping Napa appears to be a conscious reset, a chance to regroup rather than push through another tough week. Like Schauffele, Yu has also never competed at Procore.
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Aaron Baddeley’s Battle to Stay Relevant
Veteran Aaron Baddeley, 44, is the third notable absence. While no official reason was given for his withdrawal, it seems linked to his ongoing struggles with form.
In 2025, Baddeley has played 17 events but made just four cuts. His best finish was T26 at the Corales Puntacana Championship, while his latest outing at the Wyndham Championship ended with a T72. Once a familiar face at the Procore Championship—his best result being T41 in 2021—he now faces the threat of losing his PGA Tour card. Having not won since the 2016 Barbasol Championship, his absence reflects the difficult battle to remain competitive at this stage of his career.
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The Impact
Together, the withdrawals of Schauffele, Yu, and Baddeley significantly alter the landscape of the Procore Championship. From family commitments to inconsistency and the fight for survival, their absences highlight the different pressures players face on the PGA Tour.