South Korean golfing superstar Inbee Park is staring at a race against time to be fit for next month’s Olympic Games after electing not to defend her Ricoh Women’s British Open title next week at Woburn.

Park has been forced to withdraw from next week’s Major as she continues her recovery from a left thumb injury.

“With extreme disappointment I must announce that I will be withdrawing from this year’s Ricoh Women’s British Open at Woburn,” she said in a statement.

“This has been an incredibly hard decision for me to make and the reason I’ve left it to the very last minute. Winning the British Open last year at Turnberry meant so much to me in more ways than you could imagine.

“Since the PGA I’ve been resting and rehabilitating my left thumb in the hope that I would be right to defend my title next week but it just needs a little bit more time. Therefore, I will be unable to attend this year’s British Open and now must concentrate on getting healthy and ready to compete for my country at the Olympic Games in Rio.”

Park is set to tee-up in Rio as the No. 3 ranked Olympic qualifier and with compatriots Sei Young Kim (No. 5), Amy Young (No. 6) and In Gee Chun (No. 7).

Defending champion Inbee Park pulls out of next week’s Ricoh Women’s British Open.