2020 Masters odds: Former champion Sergio Garcia withdraws due to positive COVID-19 test

The last time there was a playoff in the Masters was in 2017 when Sergio Garcia became the third Spaniard all-time to win the event – joining Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal, who each won two green jackets – by beating Justin Rose on the first hole of sudden death. Sergio was +8000 on the William Hill sportsbook golf odds to win at Augusta again this year but will not compete after testing positive for COVID-19.

"On Saturday night when I got back from Houston, I started to notice an itchy throat and a slight cough," Garcia said on Twitter. "These symptoms continued with me on Sunday, so I decided to get tested for COVID-19, as did my wife Angela. Fortunately, she tested negative but I did not."

The 40-year-old Garcia has the longest streak of consecutive major championships played at 84, dating to the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie, when he was 19 years old. Aussie Adam Scott, with 76 consecutive majors played, now has the longest active streak.

That 2017 Masters remains Sergio's only major championship win, but he did capture the Sanderson Farms Championship in early October in what has otherwise been a disappointing year.

That was his first PGA Tour victory since the '17 Masters and 11th all-time on the U.S. Tour (handful more in Europe). Garcia, who has at least one worldwide win in 10 consecutive years, dedicated the victory to his father Victor, who lost two brothers, Paco and Angel, to COVID-19 in his native Spain.

Garcia is down to No. 40 in the world rankings and had failed to qualify for the 2020 FedEx Cup Playoffs. He had missed the cut in the past two Masters and also missed the cut last week at the Houston Open. Garcia played his first two rounds in Houston with Tony Finau and Brian Gay, so obviously monitor their status.

All players and caddies are required to pass a COVID-19 test prior to being admitted onto the Augusta National grounds. Last week, Chile's Joaquin Niemann withdrew because of a positive test. Because the Masters doesn't have Monday qualifiers, etc., players who withdraw are not replaced in the field. There are currently 92.

Bryson DeChambeau is the +800 favorite at William Hill with world No. 1 Dustin Johnson at +900. Neither has won a green jacket, although DeChambeau is trying for a second straight major title after winning the rescheduled U.S. Open in September. 

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