Singh pulls out of Korn Ferry Tour event at TPC Sawgrass

Vijay Singh has withdrawn from the Korn Ferry Tour event scheduled for June 11 to 14 at TPC Sawgrass' Dye's Valley Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, the PGA Tour confirmed to Brentley Romine of Golf Channel.

Singh is a lifetime PGA Tour member, which allows him to participate in any Korn Ferry Tour event as long as he's not eligible for that week's PGA Tour event. However, the Hall of Famer's decision to enter the secondary-circuit competition drew the ire of 35-year-old pro Brady Schnell.

"Do you know how much those points and money could do for a young kid?" Schnell, who's missed five of six cuts on the Korn Ferry Tour this season, said about Singh's decision. "He's a complete turd for playing. He's got his money and he's got his career. Just wait another month and roll with your senior friends."

Singh's lifetime member status doesn't qualify him for the Charles Schwab Challenge, though, which will mark the return of the 2019-20 season on June 11. Therefore, the Korn Ferry Tour Challenge at Dye's Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass is the best field available to Singh that runs synchronously with the PGA Tour.

Phil Mickelson was among those who came to Singh's defense, saying the 57-year-old "has earned the right to play when and where he wants."

Singh owns three major titles among his 34 PGA Tour victories and ranks fourth in all-time career earnings with $71.2 million, but he's missed eight of nine Tour cuts in the past two seasons.