Masters champ Trevor Immelman withdraws due to illness

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Masters champion Trevor Immelman withdrew Thursday morning from The Players Championship because of an illness, leaving the PGA Tour's flagship event without the last two major champions.

Immelman's agent, Jon Wagner, said the player woke up vomiting and had an upset stomach. Immelman returned home to Orlando to recover.

Since winning the Masters by three shots over Tiger Woods, Immelman has had a tough time. He has failed to break par in his last two tournaments, missing the cut at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship and the Wachovia Championship.

Woods, the PGA champion, withdrew earlier because he is recovering from knee surgery.

Immelman was replaced by Dustin Johnson, a 23-year-old rookie.