O’Meara pulls out of Lytham

Former winner Mark O’Meara, out of action since March with a rib injury, has withdrawn from next week’s Open Championship at Royal Lytham.

The 55-year-old, whose victory at Royal Birkdale in 1998 came three months after he won The Masters, will not be replaced at the moment.

That is because there are already 157 other players qualified, the field size is usually 156 and two more spots could be handed out at this week’s Scottish Open and John Deere Classic.

O’Meara’s fellow American Webb Simpson, winner of the US Open last month, has not pulled out yet, but is expected to do so with his wife due to give birth in a fortnight.