Bjorn out of final major

Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn has pulled out of next week’s USPGA Championship with a recurrence of a shoulder injury.

Bjorn, who famously crumbled when leading the 2003 Open with three holes to play to allow Ben Curtis to win, has had the problem for several years.

The Dane, who a month ago walked out of the European Open after six holes ‘to fight off demons’, has slipped to 31st in the Ryder Cup European points list and a third cap at Oakland Hills next month appears highly unlikely for the man who helped Europe triumph at Valderrama in 1997 and The Belfry two years ago.

The plum draw for the final major of the year at Whistling Straits sees world number one Tiger Woods playing with number three Vijay Singh and the big-hitting 1991 US PGA and 1995 Open champion John Daly.

In keeping with tradition, this year’s three major winners Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen and Todd Hamilton will all play together the first two days.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington lines up alongside probable Ryder Cup opponent Jim Furyk and world number two Ernie Els.