PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Ryan Fox of New Zealand withdrew from the Players Championship on Thursday because of an illness about five hours before he was to start.
Fox was replaced in the 123-man field by David Ford, who will be among the 15 players competing for the first time at the TPC Sawgrass.
Fox won the Myrtle Beach Classic and the RBC Canadian Open last year and is No. 44 in the world ranking. His withdrawal gives the Players 45 of the top 50 players in the world.
