Kiwi golf star Lydia Ko will not defend her title at next week's Saudi Ladies International tournament, after testing positive for COVID-19.
Ko, 24, dominated last year's event in October, winning by five strokes from Thai Atthaya Thitikul to record her sixth victory on the Ladies European Tour, as she recaptured her best form, after three years without a professional win.
But tournament organisers have announced she won't be in the field this time, after her positive test.
"Our 2021 champion Lydia Ko has had to withdraw from the 2022 Aramco Saudi Ladies International next week, after testing positive for COVID-19," the tournament Twitter account says.
"We wish Lydia a speedy recovery and hope to see her back on the course soon!"
Ko began her 2022 campaign strongly, notching up her 17th LPGA Tour victory at Gainbridge in January, and led late in the opening round of the Women's Championship at Singapore this month, before double-bogeying the 18th hole and fading to a tie for 23rd overall.
She was not in the field for this week's Honda LPGA Thailand.
