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Ben Curtis withdraws from The Open at Royal Birkdale

By Richard Cooke

Wednesday 12 July 2017 16:26, UK

Ben Curtis of the USA putts on the tenth green during the final round of the Open Championship
Image: Ben Curtis withdraws from The Open at Royal Birkdale

Ben Curtis has withdrawn from The Open at Royal Birkdale next week.

Curtis, who won the Claret Jug at Royal St George's, Sandwich 14 years ago, will be replaced by Tony Finau of the United States.

SANDWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 20: Ben Curtis of the USA with the Claret Jug after winning The Open Championship on July 20, 2003 at the Royal St George's cours
Image: Curtis with the Claret Jug at Sandwich in 2003

The former Champion had an Open to forget at Royal Troon last year - on the second day of the Championship Curtis carded a 10 after visiting three bunkers on the par-four third.

Unsurprisingly, Curtis failed to recover for the remainder of the round. He shot an 83 and finished the first two days 18 over par.

He missed the cut for the third year in a row and for the seventh time in eight years.

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With Finau replacing Curtis this year the next three players on the reserve list are James Hahn of the United States, New Zealand's Danny Lee and Jim Furyk.

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