The Masters: Sergio Garcia OUT after testing positive for COVID-19

Sergio Garcia has been forced to withdraw from The Masters this week after testing positive for coronavirus. 

Garcia, who won his sole major title at The Masters in 2017, claimed to have felt symptoms of COVID-19 after missing the halfway cut at the Houston Open last week. The Spaniard then tested postive for coronavirus over the weekend, meaning he will now miss his first major championship in 21 years. 

"On Saturday night after driving back from the Houston Open, I started feeling a bit of a sore throat and a cough," said Garcia on Twitter.

"The symptoms stayed with me on Sunday morning so I decided to get tested for COVID-19 and so did my wife Angela. Thankfully 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 are feeling good. We'll come back stronger and give the green jacket a go next April."

Garcia, 40, had been enjoying something of a mini resurgence of late following victory on the PGA Tour at the Sanderson Farms Championship last month. However, despite his good play in that tournament, he has now missed four of his last eight cuts on the PGA Tour. 

Despite winning The Masters in 2017, the 11-time PGA Tour winner had missed the cut in the tournament the past two years. 

Chilean Joaquin Neimann also tested positive for coronavirus and was forced to withdraw from The Masters. 

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