The European Tour opening event of the year 2016 will be without one of its top draws.
Charl Schwartzel has withdrawn from the South African Open, contested from Jan. 7-10 at Glendower Golf Course in Johannesburg, due to a stomach virus.
The South African's cancellation a week out comes on the heels of that especially potent illness. Schwartzel had intermittently been in the hospital in recent days because of the virus, as the 31-year-old went for rehydration treatment.
The South African Open is of course a national tournament for Schwartzel and its a tournament he has yet to win, making this absent doubly disappointing for the former Masters champion.