Injured Vijay Singh hopeful of Open spot

Vijay Singh withdrew from the AT&T National in America with a bad back yesterday - but may still qualify for The Open.

The 48-year-old Fijian, who finished joint runner-up at Sandwich in 2003, is currently in position to take one of around five spare spots expected to be made available in the championship after the world rankings are announced tomorrow.

The vacancies exist because players who have won this season's biggest events - Rory McIlroy, Charl Schwartzel, KJ Choi and Luke Donald - were already exempt when they captured the US Open, Masters, Players Championship and BMW PGA Championship respectively.

Also Greg Norman and Sir Nick Faldo, first and second at Royal St George's in 1993, are not playing the week after next.

Singh's run of 67 straight major appearances ended when he did not qualify for the US Open last month.

Meanwhile, South Korean KJ Choi said he knew he was destined for a "special round" even before completing an outstanding six-under-par 64 to move into the lead at the midway point of the National in Pennsylvania.

Choi managed an unexceptional first-round 69, but was in inspired form on the second day as he matched the course record, with four straight birdies on the opening nine setting him on his way.

He made the turn in 30 and, bogeying the 11th, had back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th which ensured he finished seven-under.

Choi, who won the unofficial "fifth major", the Players Championship at Sawgrass, earlier this year, said: "I didn't know, nor did anybody tell me (I was on target for the course record]. "But as I kept making birdies, I noticed that the reactions of the gallery, the people were very positive. I started feeling that this was going to be a special round."