Dyson handed Open berth

England’s Simon Dyson will play in next week’s Open Championship after American David Toms today became the fourth player to withdraw this week.

Former US PGA champion Toms has a hip injury and pulled out after nine holes of the John Deere Classic today.

He went into the event with a problem, saying: “I’ve got a bad hip right now and just to walk around this golf course is quite a feat.”

Toms follows Tiger Woods, Thomas Levet and Tim Clark in removing his name from The Open starting line-up.

Dyson was in position to qualify off a mini-money list two weeks ago, but was knocked out when Spanish duo Pablo Larrazabal and Sergio Garcia finished first and second in the BMW International Open in Germany.

Dane Thomas Bjorn, who was runner-up when The Open last visited Sandwich in 2003 and lost a three-shot lead with four to play then, is now first reserve.

He could well play. American Robert Garrigus also withdrew from the John Deere Classic today with back trouble after playing nine holes in five over. He was Clark’s replacement.