Cape Town - Danny Willett has pulled out of this weekend’s Arnold Palmer
Invitational - just three weeks before he is due to begin the defence of
his Masters Title.
Willett was due to compete in the PGA Tour event in Florida, but
pulled out of the event due to illness and was replaced in the field by
American Blayne Barber.
"Really sad to have to withdraw from the @APinv I've been up all
night with terrible sickness.
"Not ideal but felt it worse to take a spot
from the first reserve if I wasn't able to finish... Come Sunday I'm sure
there'll be great champ once again," tweeted the 29-year-old.
Willett's absence from Bay Hill leaves the world No 14 with just
one tournament to find some form ahead of the Masters.
He is due to
compete in next week's WGC-Dell Match Play.
The 29-year-old finished fifth at last month's Maybank Championship
after blowing a three-shot lead going into the final day, and then
failed to make the cut at both the Honda Classic and WGC-Mexico
Championship.
This week's tournament is the first since golfing great Palmer died
last year at the age of 87.
The seven-time major winner started the
event in 1979 after buying the Bay Hill Club.