| Open
News (posted 9th
July 1998) Stadler
and Darcy withdraw from Open Craig
Stadler, a former Masters champion, has notified the R & A that he will
not to try to qualify for next week's Open Championship - and so has ex-Ryder
Cup star Eamonn Darcy. Stadler,
Darcy and former US Tour commissioner Deane Beman are among a number of withdrawals
from the final qualifying competition at four courses around Birkdale on Sunday
and Monday. Darcy
shot an eight over par 79 in the first round of the Standard Life Loch Lomond
tournament on Wednesday, then withdrew with a bad back. Also
out are Stadler's fellow US Tour players Scott Verplank, Rocco Mediate, left-handers
Russ Cochran and Steve Flesch and another former European Ryder Cup player, Spaniard
Jose Rivero. Already
scratched from the championship proper are Jack Nicklaus, Miguel Angel Martin
and American Michael Bradley, while Nick Faldo is doubtful after suffering an
elbow injury at Loch Lomond.
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