CROMWELL, Conn. — Viktor Hovland withdrew after two holes at the Travelers Championship on Sunday when he felt soreness in his neck on the range and the pain became worse.

Hovland was among three players to withdraw from the PGA Tour’s final signature event of the year. Eric Cole, who was tied for 14th, pulled out before the round started with an illness. Matti Schmid withdrew after playing four holes.

Hovland said he felt great while warming up until deciding to hit a couple of drives and then he felt something in his neck.

“It felt fine, didn’t feel hardly anything at all, just felt like something was maybe brewing,” Hovland said. “Then the next shot that I hit with a driver it just felt like … it just cracked. I don’t know exactly what happened, but there’s something that happened and just couldn’t move.”

Hovland said he could barely stand over the ball and move his neck when he withdrew.

“Couldn’t really do anything,” he said.

Hovland was in the same group as Scottie Scheffler, turning that group into a twosome.

Hovland finished third at the U.S. Open last week and has four top-25 finishes in his last six starts. He will attempt to recuperate in time to compete in The Open in four weeks.

The Associated Press and Field Level Media contributed to this report.