Reigning Open champion Ernie Els has confirmed his withdrawal from this week's Tampa Bay Championship due to a nagging injury in his right hip.
The four-time major winner revealed that he won't be playing in the event on the PGA website, although he is planning a trip to Augusta for a "gentle walk" around the course which plays host to the Masters, the year's first major.
"Other than that I'll have to pretty much rest-up for most of this week," Els stated.
"Doctors orders, as they say."
Els missed last year's Masters after failing to qualify for the first time since 1993, but ensured his qualification for this year's event by winning the Open Championship last year.
In his most recent outing on the PGA Tour - last week's WGC Cadillac Championship - he finished tied for 28th.
"The week didn't go too great, mainly because my right hip was causing me problems again," Els added.
"It has been bugging me for a while now and then it really went into spasm on Thursday morning.
"I was on the first tee thinking 'Maybe I shouldn't be starting this round.' Anyway, I tried to play through it, but it's not feeling right. I've got to get this sorted."
