Trevor Immelman Withdraws From Players Championship

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (AHN) - Masters champion Trevor Immelman withdrew Thursday morning from The Players Championship due to an illness.

Immelman, who was teamed with Pardraig Harrington and Woody Austin for the first two rounds of the tournament, will not participate in the PGA Tour's flagship event because of an illness. Tour officials say that Immelman already returned to Orlando but do not have the details on the champion's illness. PGA champion Tiger Woods, who is currently recuperating from a knee surgery, announced his withdrawal from the tournament earlier leaving the tournament without the last two major champions

Immelman has been struggling to break par in his last two tournaments since beating Tigers Woods in the Masters. He later missed the cut at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship and in the recently concluded Wachovia Championship.

Taking Immelman's slot in the field will be 23-year-old rookie Dustin Johnson.