Garcia, 2017 champion, bows out after testing positive

‘ We’ll come back stronger,’ he vows in Twitter posting.

AUGUSTA— SergioGarciahas tested positive for COVID- 19 and the 2017Masters champion has withdrawn from the tournament, the golfer posted on social mediaMonday. Masters officials confirmed the news.

Garcia said he was driving back from the Houston Open on Saturday when he experienced a sore throat and cough. When the symptoms remained, he and his wife, Angela, were tested for the coronavirus. Garcia said he tested positive but his wife did not. Garcia missed the cut at the Houston Open.

Garcia posted on Twitter: “The important thing is that my family and I are feeling good. We’llcomeback stronger and give the green jacket a go next April.”

Garcia, 40, haswon11PGA Tour and 20 international tournaments. His onlymajor victory cameat the 2017Masters in a playoff over Justin Rose.

Garcia is the secondplayer to withdraw from the Masters due to a positiveCOVID

19 test. Joaquin Niemann announced last week he would not play.

Different course

While the blossoms on the famed azaleas at Augusta National Golf Club are not as spectacular as they are in April, there are still somelate bloomers holdingonfordear life inNovember. Thefamous blooming shrubs behind the greens at Nos. 12 and 13 are void of color, though.

The early- week forecast calls for cloudy skies with some rain throughout the week. There is an 80% chance of thunderstorms Wednesday and Thursday. Temperatures are expected in the low 80s to start the week with a dip to the 70s as

the tournament progresses.

With rain in the forecast, Patrick Cantlay expects the course to play soft for November play.

“Iwould say the course is just a little softer right now, and the grass is just a little longer,” Cantlay said. “And I think the biggest difference will just be once the rain starts to come this week, it looks like it’s just going to rain every day, and I was surprised to see actually how warm it is this week for a Novemberweek. Iwas expecting cooler weather.

“So warm and rain showers thisweek, so I’m sure the golf course will play soft.”

New cut line

This year, the top 50 players

and ties will make the cut for the final 36 holes. From 2013- 19, the cut line was top 50 players and ties and those within 10 strokes of the lead. Before that, the cutswere low44 and within 10 strokes of the lead ( 19622012) and low 40 and ties ( 1959- 61).

No spectators

While the general public will not be allowed in this year, there will be some people on the course. WithAugusta Nationalmembers and guests, and player guests, there will likely be between 700and 1,000people each day.

The course is also quite

different without spectator stands and ropes and will give television viewers a glimpse of what the golf course looks like most of the time.

Odds

According to SportsBettingDime. com, Bryson DeChambeau is theMasters favorite at 12- 1. Dustin Johnson is second at 13- 1 and Jon Rahm is fourth at 14- 1.

The rest of the top 25 odds: Rory McIlroy ( 16- 1), Justin Thomas ( 16- 1), Brooks Koepka ( 21- 1), Xander Schauffele ( 24- 1), Patrick Cantlay ( 33- 1), Hideki Matsuyama ( 38- 1), Patrick Reed ( 38- 1), Tiger Woods ( 39- 1), Bubba

Watson ( 40- 1), TyrrellHatton ( 41- 1), Collin Morikawa ( 411), Tony Finau ( 44- 1), Webb Simpson ( 48- 1), Matthew Wolff ( 50- 1), Jason Day ( 521), Tommy Fleetwood ( 59- 1), AdamScott ( 61- 1), Jordan Spieth ( 70- 1), Louis Oosthuizen ( 77- 1), Rickie Fowler ( 82- 1), Scottie Scheffler ( 90- 1) and Justin Rose ( 94- 1).

First- timer

Collin Morikawa will be playing in his first Masters. Monday was the first time he even set foot on the grounds of Augusta National.

He’s trying to keep the fan in him at a minimum, evenwhenhe first sawAmen Corner.

“( Justin Rose) broughtme over on 11 and hewas talking aboutthefirst timehewalked over, kind of 11, the crest, walking down and you see 11 and 12,” Morikawa said of his practice round Monday. “And you know, I got a good sense and I got a good smile out of it.

“But I’m so focused in on playing good golf out here and trying to figure out this course, because I think if I get intertwined in trying to be a spectator, I’m going to miss some shots and I’m going to miss some areas where I need to really prep and focus in.”

PHOTOS BY DAVID J. PHILLIP/ ASSOCIATED PRESS Sergio Garciawatches his tee shot on the first hole during the first round of theHoustonOpen on Thursday. Garcia missed the cut.

Bryson DeChambeau arrives at the driving range during a practice roundMonday atAugusta National. Asports gamblingwebsite lists DeChambeau as the 12- 1 favorite.