trevor immelman

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.

Tour officials did not have details on Immelman's illness, saying only he had already returned to Orlando.

Since winning the Masters by three shots over Tiger Woods, Immelman has had a tough time.

Tiger Woods had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday to repair cartilage damage, his second operation in five years on the same knee.

He is expected to miss at least a month while he recovers. The surgery, announced on his Web site, came two days after Woods finished two shots behind Trevor Immelman in the Masters.

Tiger Woods began the final round of the Masters with a couple of pars Sunday, a sluggish start as he looked to win a major after trailing through 54 holes for the first time.

At least that was better than two of the guys he was chasing. Trevor Immelman, trying to protect a two-stroke lead, and playing partner Brandt Snedeker each bogeyed the first hole.