A new season in any sport is ripe with optimism and enthusiasm, and that’s how PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan sounded when he delivered a year-end video message that promised innovation and excitement.

“Everything is on the table,” Monahan said just over a month ago.

Unfortunately, the table included ravioli at the home of golf’s best player. Scottie Scheffler confirmed that’s what he was preparing over Christmas when glass punctured the palm of his right hand and required him to have minor surgery.Scheffler had to withdraw from the season opener at Kapalua and then The American Express last week in the California desert, and he won’t decide until later this week at the earliest if he’ll be at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

“I’m anxious to get back, excited to get back,” Scheffler said Monday. “But I’m also not going to rush back just to rush back.”

Give it time, hopefully not as much time as it took the final group Sunday in The American Express. The threesome took just short of 5 hours, 40 minutes, almost as long as it takes for three TGL matches (and about as competitive as TGL) thanks to great play from Sepp Straka.

Monahan spoke about preparing to “unleash a new season,” but it’s off to a slow start.

It helps that Hideki Matsuyama polished off his credentials when Japan’s biggest star won The Sentry at Kapalua by setting records for lowest score to par (35 under) and most birdies or better (35) in a 72-hole tournament. And that Nick Taylor revived a sleepy Sony Open by chipping in for eagle on the final hole and showing his Canadian clutch gene to win a playoff.

But the MVP has been MIA. And now joining Scheffler on the injured list is Xander Schauffele, the PGA and British Open champion and No. 2 player in the world.

“Medical” was the reason given for his withdrawal from The American Express, and no explanation was required for the San Diego native not playing this week at Torrey Pines for the first time in his career because he never entered.

Golf Channel reported he has a soft tissue injury in his rib. Schauffele said he had nothing to offer when the AP messaged him over the weekend.

Adding to his absence at Torrey — golf’s first week on network television (CBS) — is Collin Morikawa. The No. 5 player in the world had to withdraw with what his manager said were flu-like symptoms. The Wednesday start to avoid the NFL conference championships on Sunday probably didn’t help.

Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, made his debut last week in Dubai and spoke about playing less this year because “I’m not getting any younger.” He makes his U.S. debut next Monday in the TGL, and then he flies across the country to Pebble Beach.

TGL showed plenty of promise with its technology and fast-moving format, right up until it was time to keep score. The first two matches were blowouts, and the most memorable shots were Kevin Kisner blading a bunker shot off the pin and nearly taking out his teammates, and Tiger Woods hitting a wedge some 30 yards over the green on the monster simulator screen.

The shot clock has been a nice addition (could have used one at PGA West), though it leaves little time for more conversation even when the right characters (Schauffele, Shane Lowry) are playing. Television ratings for TGL have been around 1 million. Whether that can be sustained is the real measure. A close competition wouldn’t hurt.