Illness costs Day shot at No.1

ILLNESS has cost Jason Day a chance to quickly regain the world No.1 ranking, forcing him to withdraw from this week’s World Golf Championship event in Mexico City.

Frequently blighted by injury and illness in recent years, world No.2 Day was scheduled to tee it up alongside the rest of the world’s top 50, including defending champion and fellow Australian Adam Scott, new world No.1 Dustin Johnson and No.3 Rory McIlroy.

“I’m truly disappointed to announce that I won’t be able to play in next week’s World Golf Championship-Mexico Championship,” Day said.

“I have a double ear infection and the flu, which precludes me from preparing for and playing in the tournament.”

It’s the latest health setback for the 29-year-old Queenslander, after a back injury in September that sidelined him for four months. It is also the second ear infection to affect Day’s career in recent years, with an innerear virus leading to severe bouts of vertigo during the 2015 US Open.