GRAND BLANC, Mich. — A few months ago, Trevor Immelman seemed to be emerging as one of the top under-30 players in golf.

Coming off his first PGA Tour victory last year — when he held off Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh — the South African finished third in two of his first five events and tied for ninth in his seventh.

Then, Immelman ate or touched something at the Masters that led to a parasite and stomach infection.

That led to a few days of fasting, then a liquid-only diet before the 27-year-old Immelman could eat rice and Jell-O. He lost 22 pounds in the process and didn't play for nearly a month.

He returned for the Wachovia Championship in May, finishing 14th.