2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia has withdrawn from this week’s much-anticipated event at Augusta National after testing positive for Covid-19.
The Spaniard confirmed his withdrawal from the 2020 edition of the Green Jacket on Twitter late on Monday afternoon.
Garcia said he started feeling unwell on Saturday evening after competing at this past weekend’s Houston Open and had a positive coronavirus test returned on Sunday morning.
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It will be the first time in 21 years that Garcia will miss a Major competition, but he tweeted he will be back stronger in April with his lifetime exemption following his heroic victory three years ago.
‘On Saturday night after driving back from the Houston Open, I started feeling a bit of a sore throat and a cough. The symptoms stayed with me on Sunday morning so I decided to get tested for Covid-19 and so did my wife Angela. Thankfully she tested negative, but I didn’t,’ Garcia wrote.
After 21 years of not missing a Major Championship, I will sadly miss @themastersthis week. The important thing is that my family and I are feeling good. We’ll come back stronger and give the green jacket a go next April ?? pic.twitter.com/Ofpq1hBGYu
— Sergio Garcia (@TheSergioGarcia) November 9, 2020
The official Masters social media accounts also confirmed that Garcia will not participate this week after he told organisers about his situation.
Last week world No 1 Dustin Johnson expressed his concern about players being under pressure ahead of the Masters due to their risk of infection prior to Thursday’s start.
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Johnson spent more than three weeks away from the game after he tested positive in October.
