Karen Stupples was forced to withdraw from Thursday's first round of the Evian Masters golf tournament in France, which was due to be her first appearance of the year on the European Women's tour.

The Deal 35-year-old, the leading British player on this year's US Tour with earnings of nearly $500,000, flew back to England on Friday.

Her father Alan said: "She has a very nasty throat, probably tonsillitis, and is hoping to see a doctor as soon as she gets home."

Stupples is due to compete in the Ricoh Women's British Open, starting next Thursday at Sunningdale, the course where she won the British title in 2004.