Perth's World Super 6 golf event has suffered a huge blow after drawcard Tyrrell Hatton was forced to withdraw because of a wrist injury.
The world No.15 was the highest ranked player in the field, but said he has taken the advice of the European Tour's chief medical officer Andrew Murray to withdraw.
"I am absolutely gutted that I can't play in Perth at the ... World Super 6 Perth, a fantastic, innovative and fun event in a great part of the world in Western Australia," Hatton said.
Cult hero Andrew 'Beef' Johnston has been named as Hatton's replacement for the Lake Karrinyup tournament, which starts on Thursday.
Last year, American drawcard Patrick Reed pulled out of the World Super 6 Perth, citing a respiratory illness.
But he was later panned on social media after featuring at the Genesis Open at Riviera on the same week he was scheduled to play in Perth.
Hatton's withdrawal leaves former world No..1 Lee Westwood and 2016 US Masters winner Danny Willett as the tournament's main drawcards.
Defending champion Brett Rumford will also be playing.
Johnston has become somewhat of a cult hero on the golf scene, with his bushy beard and willingness to interact with the crowd making him a favourite.
"Australia loves a larrikin, we love to embrace personalities that are talented, fun and that embrace the Aussie way of life," PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman said.
"When you think of pro golfers who fit that mould, one player immediately comes to mind - 'Beef' Johnston."
The Super 6 is a revolutionary golf event that features 54 holes of traditional stroke play across the first three days before switching to a knockout match play format for the final round.
During that final round, the top 24 players will battle it out in a series of six-hole shootouts.
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