South Africa’s most recent major champion, Ernie Els withdrew from The Open Championship ahead of his second round on Friday.
Els battled his way to an 11-over 82 in the first round, and he has since revealed he had been battling a back injury which led to his bad score.
The 54-year-old has played every Open Championship since 2019, but has now not been around for the weekend in the last four tournaments following his withdrawal.
Els confirmed his decision in social media post.
Tiger scores his first birdie of the day at the long 6th hole. pic.twitter.com/NMSSNPCMdv
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 19, 2024
‘Tweaked my back’
“Really disappointed to have had to withdraw from this year’s Open Championship. I tweaked my back, which means I also have to miss next week’s Senior Open presented by @rolex. I want to say thank you to @therandagolf and to everyone who came out to support us this week @royaltroongc. The @theopen fans are the best fans in the world,” said Els.
Els was seen as a good long shot bet this week, after claiming his first senior major title at the Kaulig Companies Championship on the US Champions Tour over the weekend.
Els is always an excellent bet as a dark horse, like he was in 2012 when he was a shock winner at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s, when Australian Adam Scott faltered on the final nine holes to open the door for the South African.
The four-time senior men’s major champion remains the last South African to have won one of the big four events, with that shock victory 12 years ago.
Currently only three SA players seem set to make the cut, with former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen outside the current cut mark in 129th position. Dean Burmester, meanwhile, is the top-placed South African in a tie for fourth after 16 holes.
Tiger Woods was also on course to miss the cut in 151st place on 12-over after 12 holes.