Parnevik to miss British Open

Jesper Parnevik has pulled out of next week’s Scottish Open to rest an injured shoulder – and will therefore miss the British Open Championship as well.

It is also a big blow to his hopes of a fourth Ryder Cup appearance.

The 39-year-old has been on pain-killers since the problem with his rotator cuff started when he tried – and failed – to qualify for the US Open last month.

He completed the European Open today with a 67 for a one under par total, but had made the decision before he teed off that he needs to rest rather than play on.

Parnevik would have been attempting at Loch Lomond to earn one last remaining place in the British Open at Royal Troon the following week – it goes to the leading non-exempt player in the tournament – and said: “Of course it’s disappointing and I don’t even know if I can watch the (British) Open on television.”

The Swede led with a round to go at Troon seven years ago, but bogeyed the last three holes and finished joint second with Darren Clarke, three behind Justin Leonard.

Having resigned his European Tour membership in May, Parnevik re-joined just a few weeks later after it emerged that the qualifying events for the US Open and Open counted towards the 11 needed for Ryder Cup eligibility.

But he admits there has to be considerable doubt now whether he will fulfil that commitment during the rest of the season.

“It’s going to be tough and we’ll just have to see what happens,” he added.

He hopes to return either at the Irish Open or Scandinavian Masters, but feels he will have to show form in the last few weeks of the qualifying race just to be considered for a wild card by Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer.