Matsuyama withdraws from British Open

Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama has withdrawn from The Open at Royal St George’s after his recent Covid-19 diagnosis and inability to practice properly in time for the year’s final major, the Japanese golfer said on Sunday.

Matsuyama has been self-isolating since testing positive during the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit on July 2. He is currently asymptomatic but subsequent PCR tests have continued to show positive results.

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“I’m feeling fine but haven’t been able to practice in preparation for The Open,” Matsuyama said in a statement released by the R&A ahead of the torunament, which begins on Thursday.