Open Field Hit By High Profile Withdrawals

• Tuesday, 11 July 2006
• Mark Robinson
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American and Australian fans travelling to the Royal Liverpool Golf Club for the 2006 Open Championship next week have been left disappointed by the withdrawal of two popular figures from the field due to injury.

Former champion Greg Norman, who lifted the Claret Jug at Turnberry in 1986 and at Royal St George's in 1993, has admitted defeat in his efforts to overcome the knee surgery he underwent in February of this year. The charismatic Australian's recovery has not gone as speedily as first anticipated and he will be out of action until August at the earliest, meaning that he will also miss the Senior British Open at Turnberry at the end of July.

"My knee is fine," Norman revealed, claiming that a lack of practice was the major factor in his decision to miss the tournament.

"My game just isn't where I want it to be and the last thing I want to do is take a place away from another deserving professional."

2001 USPGA Champion David Toms has also withdrawn due to injury, which will cause considerable concern for American Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman. Toms lies in fifth place on the US points list and is yet to guarantee his presence at the K Club in September. The American is suffering from a recurring back problem and will be disappointed to be absent following his voluntary disqualification last year.

Norman's place will be taken by last year's European Tour Rookie of the Year Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, while Toms will be replaced by another former USPGA Champion, Jeff Sluman of the United States.