THE LAST warm-up event before next week's Masters turned cold on Sam Torrance yesterday when he had to pull out of the Freeport-McDermott Classic in New Orleans through injury. Torrance had played 10 holes and was six over par when he withdrew with what he suspects is tendonitis in his left wrist.

It followed the scratching of Seve Ballesteros from the tournament with a heavy cold on Wednesday, but both are hoping to recover in time for the start of the Masters at Augusta next Thursday.

Americans Larry Rinker, David Toms and Scott McCarron, the defending champion, led in New Orleans after seven under par rounds of 65. Just two behind was world number one Greg Norman, but Ryder Cup Swede Per-Ulrik Johansson was lying last after a 10 over par 82 in only his third tournament of the season. Best of the European contingent was Italian Costantino Rocca who shot 71.