Golf: Duval out of Players Championship

Two former winners pulled out of the Players Championship without hitting a shot in Florida.

World number seven David Duval and double winner Steve Elkington withdrew before the start of the event with wrist and back trouble respectively.

Duval, suffered his injury while practising two weeks ago.

After scratching from the Bay Hill International he was hopeful of being able to tee off even though he knew he was not 100 per cent.

But he quit a practice round with Tiger Woods after only three holes and made the decision not to risk playing with the Masters at Augusta only two weeks away.

Elkington's entire career has been blighted by injuries - mostly from a sinus problem which makes him allergic to grass.

The Australian, who beat Colin Montgomerie in a play-off for the 1995 US PGA, won the Players Championship - in 1991 and 1997.