Daly Forced to Withdraw from British Open

This week John Daly announced he would be pulling out of the British Open due to an elbow injury that’s likely end his Tour season a lot earlier than he would have wanted.
 
The American is expected to have surgery on a torn tendon in his right elbow on Thursday.  But a return to the course looks unlikely before October.
 
“I hate missing the British Open, especially at Muirfield.  It's one of the best on the planet,” Daly told the Associated Press.
 
This will be the first time since 1999 that Daly will miss the British Open, the tournament he won, after a playoff with Costantino Rocca, in 1995.  The 47 year-old first noticed something was amiss at the Byron Nelson Championship in May.  Testing revealed a torn tendon but Daly says doctors advised he could still play as long as he didn’t hit a rock or a tree root.
 
“And that's what happened on the 12th hole Friday at Greenbrier,” said Daly.  “I was just trying to chip out and there was a root under the ball.  It wasn't more than 50-yard chip shot.  But that's the pain I've been dealing with.”
 
Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher will replace Daly at Muirfield next week, marking his sixth British Open appearance.