South Africa's 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman was forced to withdraw from his second successive major on Wednesday when he pulled out of next week's British Open because of a wrist injury.

The 29-year-old who is the second high profile withdrawal from the third major of the season after last year's European number one Robert Karlsson withdrew on Tuesday - failed to start the US Open because of the injury, which he suffered at the Memorial a month ago.

Immelman said that while his rehabilitation had been going well, it had not progressed far enough to make him competitive enough.

"My wrist has been responding well to treatment, but at this point, it just isn't far enough along to allow me to be ready for the Open," he said.

Karlsson withdrew because of an eye problem.

The British Open gets underway on Thursday at Turnberry, Scotland, with Irishman Padraig Harrington seeking to become the first player since Peter Thomson of Australia in 1956 to lift the Auld Claret Jug for three straight years.

AFP

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