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SANDWICH, England (Reuters) - Denmark's Thomas Bjorn has earned a last-gasp place at this week's British Open following the withdrawal of former world number one Vijay Singh.
Bjorn came agonisingly close to winning the championship when it was last played at Sandwich in 2003, finishing joint second with Singh behind American Ben Curtis.
Singh has had back problems recently and pulled out of the AT&T National in Pennsylvania this month after 36 holes.
"I'm very pleased but then obviously very sorry for Vijay as no one wants to withdraw from any event let alone a major," Bjorn said on Monday.
"I arrived here today not knowing what I was going to do all week and whether or not I should play a full practice round each day or just stay on the range.
"But now that I'm in the Open it means that I will now be able to prepare properly." the Dane added.
Bjorn, 40, who won the Qatar Masters in February and was one of European Ryder Cup skipper Colin Montgomerie's deputy captains at Celtic Manor in October, led after the third round at Royal St George's eight years ago.
The Dane's title challenge unravelled in spectacular fashion, though.
Bjorn arrived at the 15th hole with a three-shot lead over Curtis but immediately dropped a stroke.
He then found sand at the par-three 16th and double-bogeyed after twice watching his escape attempt spin back into the bunker.
Bjorn also bogeyed the 17th after driving into the right rough and finished one stroke adrift of Curtis.
(Editing by Ed osmond. To comment on this story: sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Bjorn came agonisingly close to winning the championship when it was last played at Sandwich in 2003, finishing joint second with Singh behind American Ben Curtis.
Singh has had back problems recently and pulled out of the AT&T National in Pennsylvania this month after 36 holes.
"I'm very pleased but then obviously very sorry for Vijay as no one wants to withdraw from any event let alone a major," Bjorn said on Monday.
"I arrived here today not knowing what I was going to do all week and whether or not I should play a full practice round each day or just stay on the range.
"But now that I'm in the Open it means that I will now be able to prepare properly." the Dane added.
Bjorn, 40, who won the Qatar Masters in February and was one of European Ryder Cup skipper Colin Montgomerie's deputy captains at Celtic Manor in October, led after the third round at Royal St George's eight years ago.
The Dane's title challenge unravelled in spectacular fashion, though.
Bjorn arrived at the 15th hole with a three-shot lead over Curtis but immediately dropped a stroke.
He then found sand at the par-three 16th and double-bogeyed after twice watching his escape attempt spin back into the bunker.
Bjorn also bogeyed the 17th after driving into the right rough and finished one stroke adrift of Curtis.
(Editing by Ed osmond. To comment on this story: sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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