The Masters: Will Zalatoris withdraws from Augusta before the first round

Will Zalatoris has become the latest golf star to withdraw from the first major of the year.

The 26-year-old, who came close to winning The Masters two years ago before eventually being beaten by one shot by Hideki Matsuyama, has pulled out due to injury ahead of his opening round.

The withdrawal came shortly after Kevin Na pulled out of the tournament midway through his first round at Augusta National on Thursday.

The LIV Golf star cited illness for his decision.

The Korean-American was the first golfer from the breakaway Saudi-backed league to tee it up at The Masters on Thursday, but he could only manage nine holes before he pulled out with his score at four-over-par.

Zalatoris withdrew from the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play event last month due to illness.

But he’s been dealing with a troublesome back ever since he was forced to pull out of the BMW Championship last summer.

The setback came just weeks after he won his first PGA Tour title as he claimed the FedEx St Jude Championship.

The specific injury details for his absence this week have not been revealed but he took some time to manage two herniated discs in his back before the turn of the year.

Zalatoris remains on the traditional PGA Tour circuit, although Fred Couples did recently disclose that the American did turn down a lucrative nine-figure offer.

Speaking to the Orange County Register, Couples claimed that Zalatoris had been offered a whopping $130million – after an initial offer of $35million – but rejected the controversial Saudi-backed league.

All eyes will be on the tension between the rebel LIV Tour and the PGA Tour at Augusta while firm attention will also be on Tiger Woods in what could be his last ever Masters tournament. 

The 15-time major winner looked hot under the collar as he struggled his way around Augusta National in his opening round of the 87th Masters Thursday.