Open stinger for injured Azinger

Paul Azinger has become the second big name to pull out of the 131st Open Championship.

The 42-year-old will not compete at Muirfield after being ruled out with an unspecified injury, tournament officials said on Monday.

The player did not confirm the nature of his problem, but his management team described it as a "minor injury that has rendered him unable to play".

Azinger follows three-times champion Gary Player in withdrawing from Thursday's start, the South African veteran missing what would have been his 46th straight Open with a rib injury.

Azinger recorded his best-ever finish of second at Muirfield beating Nick Faldo in 1987, but has missed four of the last six opens including last year's tournament at Royal Lytham when he withdrew with flu.

He has also failed to make the cut in four of his last five tournaments.