Azinger withdraws from Open

AMERICAN Ryder Cup player Paul Azinger, runner-up to Nick Faldo in the 1987 British Open at Muirfield, yesterday withdrew from this week's championship.

Azinger has what was described by his management company as a ‘‘minor injury that has rendered him unable to play’’. His withdrawal was great news for Australian Steve Elkington, Yorkshire’s Ian Garbutt and Swede Mattias Eliasson.

They were facing a play-off for two places in the final qualifying competition at Dunbar, but with an extra spot suddenly available in the Open proper they all qualified.