Former PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Aaron Wise returned to professional golf after nearly two years away to tend to his mental health. Wise teed off at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Argentina Open, just his second event since withdrawing from the Masters Tournament in 2023.

The 28-year-old began his professional career in 2016, and earned his PGA Tour card two years later. That season, he was named Rookie of the Year on the world’s premier circuit after finishing with one win (AT&T Byron Nelson) and three other top-10 finishes, including a tie for second (Wells Fargo Championship).

However, Wise was unable to continue his upward trajectory due to mental health issues. The player himself acknowledged these problems when they reached a dimension that led him to withdraw from one of the world’s most coveted tournaments, the Masters Tournament, in 2023.

“Regretfully I am withdrawing from the Masters today,” Wise posted on Instagram at the time, according to Golfweek. “Golf is just as much a mental game as it is one of physical skill, and the mental piece of it has been a struggle for me recently.

“I don’t take the significance of playing at Augusta lightly, but I know that I need to take some time away to focus on my mental health so I can get back to competing at a level I am proud of. This hurts but it’s needed. See you all soon.”

Wise attempted a comeback just a month later when he tied for 50th at the AT&T Byron Nelson. His situation remained complicated, however, and he missed the cut in his only three starts the rest of the year, the PGA Championship, the RBC Canadian Open and the US Open.

Since then, Wise has remained out of competitive golf with the sole exception of the 2024 Puerto Rico Open. In that event, he also missed the cut by six strokes with rounds of 76 and 70.

Wise still has 26 guaranteed PGA Tour starts in his major medical extension. However, he chose to make his comeback on the Korn Ferry Tour, presumably looking for a friendlier environment in which to make a strong showing.

His result at the Argentina Open has not been the happiest, however, as he shot an even-par 70 in the first round. On the second day (delayed due to weather), his score was 2 over through 14 and he was six shots off the projected cut line.

Aaron Wise’s PGA Tour career includes 140 tournaments and 86 cuts made. He adds three runner-up finishes and another 12 top-10s to his results.

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