Former British Open champion Mark O'Meara has pulled out of this year's event at Royal Lytham due to injury.
The nature or extent of the problem was not revealed when it was announced by tournament organisers that the 54-year-old had withdrawn.
O'Meara won the major at Royal Birkdale in 1998 just months after he had claimed the Masters at Augusta, making him the oldest man to win two majors in the same year.
The American will not be replaced in the field, which was already above its 156-man limit.
