The Open winner pulls out of Royal Portrush days before start with replacement named

Open Championship winner Ernie Els will not be participating in his favourite major this weekend. The South African golf legend was set to make a return at Royal Portrush but has withdrawn from the 156-strong field vying for the Claret Jug.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club did not disclose specific reasons for two-time champion Els' withdrawal. However, it's significant enough that Els will miss The Open for the first time since 1991, excluding the 2020 cancellation due to Covid-19.

Els, aged 55, will be replaced by Si-woo Kim, who missed out on one of the three qualifying spots at the Scottish Open on Sunday. However, he's been given a spot as the highest-ranked alternate contender.

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This marks the second consecutive year of disappointment for Els around this period. He had to pull out from last year's Open at Royal Troon after suffering back pain following an 11-over 82 in the opening round.

Els, who reportedly has a net worth of approximately £62million, clinched The Open in 2002 and 2012. However, it's been six years since he last made the cut in the tournament, reports the Mirror US.

Former champions can secure their spot in The Open field until they reach 60, though this cut-off point was reduced to 55 last year. This means Els, who celebrates his 60th birthday in October 2029, has four more automatic entries before losing his guaranteed place.

'The Big Easy' memorably triumphed in a four-man play-off at Muirfield to claim his first Claret Jug over two decades ago. Ten years later, he capitalised on Adam Scott's dramatic late meltdown to secure his second win in the tournament.

Els, a two-time US Open winner who expressed he was "very happy" to skip this year's event, isn't the sole late withdrawal. English golfer Paul Waring also stepped back due to a shoulder problem and has been replaced by American Davis Riley.

Yet as one opportunity vanishes, another emerges for Kim. The South Korean will tee off at The Open for the seventh occasion, having achieved a T43 finish in last year's competition.

The 30 year old gaming enthusiast delivered a brilliant reaction to news of his field inclusion. Kim posted on his Instagram story: "Finally got in the field at The Open. Let's do some COD [Call of Duty] and drink Red Bull."

There are undoubtedly more conventional, and less conventional, methods of major championship preparation. Kim participated when The Open last visited Royal Portrush in 2019, where he missed the cut after posting three-over par through 36 holes, falling just two shots short of the required standard.

Kim, who has won on the PGA Tour four times, made his debut at The Open in 2017 and has failed to make the cut in three of his six appearances so far.

His best performance in the tournament was a tie for 15th place in 2022, where a fourth-round score of 73 prevented him from achieving his first top-10 finish.

Els' withdrawal has brought down the total number of major winners in the field to 30, including the current Open champion, Xander Schauffele. Rory McIlroy is also among this group.