Former Open Champion, Louis Oosthuizen was forced to withdraw from this year’s Open Championship after playing his tee shot at the par five, ninth hole.

Oosthuizen shook hands with playing partners Tiger Woods and Graeme McDowell before heading to the closeby rented house he has been residing this week to have treatment on his injury.

“I’m bitterly disappointed to have to pull out of The Open and it looks likely now I am going to have to take some time off and give the injury the rest I’ve been told it needs,” he said.

“I thought I would be okay today as I warmed up pretty well on the range hitting balls.

“But then as the round progressed the pain in my neck translated into my hips and I just found it increasingly uncomfortable to walk.

“The Open means so much to me and to have to withdraw in this manner is extremely disappointing on top of also having to pull out of Merion.”

As the South African mentioned It’s the same neck injury that forced him to withdraw from last month’s US Open at Medinah as well as the Byron Nelson Classic.

Oosthuizen’s ISM management confirmed the rest that Oosthuizen has been advised to take will mean missing next month’s WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and the following week’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

However at this stage the representative for ISM indicated they could not determine when Oosthuizen will be able to return to competiton.