Back injury has forced former U.S. Amateur champion Peter Uihlein out of Monday’s 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier at Walton Heath in Surrey.
Uihlein, 24 was hoping to qualify for the U.S. Open for a first time as a professional after making his debut, as the then U.S. Amateur champion, in the 2011 event at the Congressional Club in Maryland.
Peter Uihlein, and winner of the 2013 Maderia Islands Open, pulls out through injury of Monday’s U.S. Open qualifier at Walton Heath. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
The Orlando-based golfer had teed-up last Thursday in the first round of the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship but lasted just three holes and forced to retire because of his back.
“Peter’s also withdrawn from next week’s Nordea Masters, and really the only cure at this stage is rest,” said a representative of his management company.
“He’s also going to undergo an MRI later next on his back just as a precautionary measure.”
Also withdrawing from the qualifier on Monday is fellow Orlando-based and former two-time Ryder Cup star Peter Hanson of Sweden.
Hanson has competed in the past five U.S. Open’s and made his U.S. Open debut in 2005 at Pinehurst where this year’s championship will commence on 12th June.
Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal, and the reigning Abu Dhabi HSBC champion, is another to withdraw along with double European Tour winner Richie Ramsay who will instead focus on Thursday’s starting Nordea Masters.
All interest on Monday will focus on triple Major winning Padraig Harrington and attempting to qualify for the year’s traditional second Major for the first time in his professional career.
Last month Harrington failed to qualify for the Masters for a first time in 14 years while was also not exempt for last fortnight’s Players Championship and he will tee-up at Walton Heath looking to contest a 15th consecutive U.S. Open.
Harrington will play the two rounds alongside England’s Graeme Storm.
Italy’s Matteo Manassero will also tee-up at Walton Heath and a year after winning through to Merion with his victory in the BMW PGA Championship.
However the Italian crashed out in his defence with Wentworth scores of 80 and 71.
A field of 108 will take to both the New and Old Courses at Walton Heath with the leading dozen players earning a place in the U.S. Open.
