Watson backs out of Bay Hill

Masters champ withdraws due to death of friend

Masters champion Bubba Watson has withdrawn from the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Watson informed the PGA Tour on Wednesday that he was pulling out of Bay Hill ( Orlando, Florida) because of the death of a childhood friend.

“I have chosen to withdraw so I can attend the funeral and pay respect to my friend and his family,” Watson, the defending Masters champion, said in a statement. A year ago, he withdrew after an 83 in the opening round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational because of allergies. A few weeks later, he took out a membership at Bay Hill.

Watson was replaced by Kevin Kisner, who will play the opening two rounds with Brooks Koepka and Adam Scott.

Rory McIlroy turned n pro in 2007, but Thursday will be his first appearance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

“I haven’t played this tournament for a few reasons over the past few years,” he said. “But it’s nice that it was able to fit into the schedule, and I’m sort of rued the decision I haven’t come sooner.”

McIlroy said the course, with its wide fairways, suits his big- hitting game. McIlroy could use a good final tuneup before the Masters, where he could win his third straight major.

LPGA: Top- ranked Lydia Ko will play the first two rounds of the JTBC FoundersCupinArizonawithU. S. Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie and Na Yeon Choi. Theywill openThursday at 7: 55 a. m. onNo. 10.

Ko has two worldwide victories this year, winning the tour’s Women’s Australian Open and the Ladies European Tour’s New Zealand Women’s Open in consecutive weeks.

Azahara Munoz will n be sidelined about a month after having surgery to remove a tumor from her left hand. Munoz posted on Instagram that the surgery went well.

The Spaniard won the 2012 Match Play Championship for her lone LPGA Tour title.