World number one Jason Day has withdrawn from the Australian Open and World Cup of Golf due to his recurring back injury.
Day, 28, was hampered by the problem late in the PGA Tour season and pulled out of his final two events of the campaign – the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship.
The Australian will miss the two tournaments in his native Australia in November as he continues his recovery, he announced on Friday.
"I regret that I will be unable to come home to Australia this year," Day said in a statement.
"I was looking forward to playing in the Australian Open and teaming up with Adam Scott on one of my favourite courses, Kingston Heath, the following week at the World Cup in Melbourne.
"My plan is to return home to Australia in 2017.
"My best wishes to all in Sydney at the Open and to Adam and Team Australia in Melbourne at the World Cup."
Day's management said he expected to be fit for next season, but was unable to make the long trip back home, with a charity match against Rory McIlroy in the Philippines also having to be scrapped.
With Scott, Day won the World Cup of Golf when it was last held in 2013.
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