Illness forces Immelman withdrawal

Masters champion Trevor Immelman has withdrawn from the Players Championship at Sawgrass because of illness.

The South African, who won his maiden major title at Augusta last month, has returned to his home in Orlando but PGA Tour officials gave no further details about his condition.

Since winning the Green Jacket, Immelman, who was due to tee off today with Open champion Padraig Harrington and American Woody Austin, has missed the cut in the Byron Nelson and Wachovia Championship.

With world number one Tiger Woods absent after knee surgery, it means the tournament dubbed ’the fifth major’ is missing the two most recent major winners.