Masters champion Trevor Immelman has withdrawn from the Players Championship at Sawgrass because of illness.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 had been due to tee off on Thursday with Open champion Padraig Harrington and American Woody Austin, has missed the cut in the Byron Nelson and Wachovia Championship.

World number one Tiger Woods is also missing from the field for golf's 'fifth major' after recently undergoing knee surgery.