Lilia Vu, the world No. 2, has had to withdraw from the Chevron Championship due to a back injury flareup during warm-up. This is the third tournament that Vu has withdrawn from this year due to various health issues, resulting in just one top-10 finish in seven starts. Last summer, Vu also faced a back injury scare that required her to take nearly a month off to recover. Despite managing the issue, it continues to resurface periodically.
Vu openly shared her struggles with her injury, expressing how challenging it has been in recent months. She admitted to feeling scared and emotional at times when her back couldn’t hold up during practice sessions. Despite these setbacks, she aimed to defend her title at the Woodlands. At 26 years old, Vu had a remarkable season last year, winning two majors and becoming the first American to win the Rolex Player of the Year award since Stacy Lewis in 2014.
Scheduled to tee off at 2:10 p.m. ET alongside Minjee Lee and Nelly Korda, who seeks her fifth consecutive victory, Vu’s absence will be felt at the championship. Despite the setback, Vu remains determined to overcome her injury struggles and return to competitive form as soon as possible.