The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Injury rules out holder
Defending Women’s British Open champion Inbee Park has pulled out of next week’s tournament with a thumb injury.
The seven-time major winner has not played since missing the cut in her defence of the Women’s PGA Championship last month.
She will now concentrate on getting fit for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“With extreme disappointment I must announce that I will be withdrawing from this year’s Ricoh Women’s British Open at Woburn,” said the world No 2.
“This has been an incredibly hard decision for me to make and the reason I’ve left it to the very last minute.
“Winning the British Open last year at Turnberry meant so much to me in more ways than you could imagine.
“Since the PGA I’ve been resting and rehabilitating my left thumb in the hope that I would be right to defend my title next week but it just needs a little bit more time.
“Therefore, I will be unable to attend this year’s British Open and now must concentrate on getting healthy and ready to compete for my country at the Olympic Games in Rio.”