Ryan Fox Out Of Players Championship Ahead Of Opening Round

Ryan Fox was a last-minute withdrawal from the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass due to illness

Ryan Fox at the Wyndham Championship
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Ryan Fox was a late withdrawal from The Players Championship, with David Ford getting the last-minute entry into the field at TPC Sawgrass.

The New Zealander pulled out just ahead of Thursday's first round of the PGA Tour's flagship event due to illness.

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As first reserve, Ford gets a late entry into the prestigious event and will play alongside Keegan Bradley and Chris Kirk in the 1.18pm (ET) group starting off the 10th tee at Sawgrass.

Fox's fine form had seen him climb up to No. 44 in the world ranking, and his withdrawal meant that 45 of the world's top 50 would be teeing it up at Sawgrass.

That, though, soon became 44 after another big name dropped out of the tournament soon after.

As there was another high-profile withdrawal less than an hour later when Collin Morikawa tweaked his back on the 11th tee, his second hole.

The World No.4 was among the tournament favorites this week.

Paul Higham
Contributor

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush. 

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