Injury concern for Woosnam's Open hopes

Ian Woosnam is a doubt for next week’s Open Championship after pulling out of the Scottish Open with a back injury.

Woosnam withdrew after three holes of his second round this morning at a soggy Loch Lomond, a triple-bogey seven on the 10th and two pars leaving him six over for the tournament.

The Welshman finished third in the Open two years ago after being penalised two shots for having 15 clubs in his bag at the start of the final round, but will have to qualify for Sandwich on Sunday and Monday – fitness permitting.

He had hoped to avoid qualifying by claiming one of the 15 places available in the Scottish Open – seven going to the highest finishers in a mini Order of Merit from the Volvo PGA to this week, and eight to the leading players in the tournament not otherwise exempt.

“I’m not sure how bad it is, but I’ll get treatment over the next two days and hopefully be okay for qualifying,” Woosnam said.

Woosnam was among a host of players withdrawing this morning with European number one Retief Goosen also pulling out citing a bad back, the South African also running up a triple-bogey seven to lie nine over before deciding to call it a day.

Norway’s Henrik Bjornstad, India’s Arjun Atwal and English duo Warren Bennett and Anthony Wall were all also casualties, while Swede Henrik Stenson was disqualified for playing the wrong ball.