West Palm Beach: Australian world No.2 Jason Day will miss out the chance to return to the top of the rankings after withdrawing from the World Golf Championship event in Mexico City, citing illness.
The 29-year-old Day was scheduled to tee it up this week alongside each of the world's top-50 golfers, including defending champion and fellow Australian Adam Scott, new world No.1 Dustin Johnson and No.3 Rory McIlroy.
![Jason Day: Illness has forced him out of the Mexico City event.](/web/20170301010909im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/l/s/i/y/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gulsiz.png/1488126198451.jpg)
American Johnson took the No.1 ranking from Day – who held the coveted spot for 47 consecutive weeks – with his win at last week's Genesis Open in Los Angeles, but holds only a 0.5-point lead over the Queenslander.
With a victory in Mexico, Day would likely have catapulted back to golf's top spot.
"I'm truly disappointed to announce that I won't be able to play in next week's World Golf Championship-Mexico Championship," Day said on Sunday.
"I have a double ear infection and the flu, which precludes me from preparing for and playing in the tournament.
"I have heard great things about the Mexico Championship and the golf course and I look forward to teeing it up there next year."
Australians who will tee it up at at Mexico City's Club de Golf Chapultepec are world No.7 Scott – who won the event at Miami's famed Doral last year before the venue was changed – as well as Marcus Fraser, Scott Hend, Sam Brazel and Matt Griffin.
AAP