The Masters: Sergio García retires after testing positive for Covid-19 | Golf news

Sergio Garcia, 2017 Masters champion, will miss his first major championship since 1999; Garcia: “Unfortunately I will miss the Masters this week. The important thing is that my family and I feel good. We will come back stronger and give the green jacket a shot next April.”

Sergio García is out of this week’s Masters

Sergio García has withdrawn from the Masters after testing positive for coronavirus.

Garcia will miss his first major championship since 1999 after he complained of feeling unwell over the weekend after he missed the cut at the Houston Open.

The Spaniard was still experiencing symptoms associated with Covid-19 on Sunday night, prompting him to take a test that would come back positive, although his wife, Angela, tested negative.

Garcia tested positive for coronavirus

“On Saturday night, after driving back from the Houston Open, I started to get a little sore throat and a cough,” Garcia said on Twitter. “Symptoms stuck with me Sunday morning so I decided to get tested for COVID-19 and so did my wife Angela. Fortunately, she tested negative, but I didn’t.

“After 21 years of not missing a Major Championship, I will sadly miss the Masters this week. The important thing is that my family and I feel good. We will come back stronger and give the green jacket a shot next April.”

Garcia claimed a sensational maiden title at tournament 74 after beating Justin Rose in a playoff on a memorable final day at Augusta National in 2017.

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The 40-year-old played his 87th consecutive major at the US Open in September, a record among active players, but now will not be able to play in a major for the first time since he failed to qualify for the US Open in 1999..

The record for consecutive major appearances now belongs to Australian Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters champion who will compete in his 76th consecutive major this week.

This is the first time Garcia has missed a major championship since the 1999 US Open. Adam Scott now has the longest active streak of consecutive majors played (assuming he plays this week), with 76 (last lost – US Open 2001).

Garcia won his first major at Augusta in 2017

Joaquin Niemann announced over the weekend that he would also have to miss the Masters after testing positive for coronavirus, meaning the field has now shrunk to 92.

Augusta National officials announced Monday that the “10 shot rule” will not apply when determining the midway cut on Friday night, and that the top 50 players and ties will run through the weekend.

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