Andrew Coltart pulls out of US Open

Scotland's Andrew Coltart is to miss the US Open, starting at Pinehurst on Thursday, because of a rib muscle injury.

It is a big blow to the 29-year-old's hopes a Ryder Cup debut since he has also withdrawn from next week's Compaq European Grand Prix at Slaley Hall near Newcastle.

Coltart played just one round of the German Open last week before flying home in the hope that he would recover in time to make only his second appearance in the US Open.

But since he was struggling to breathe the decision was made not to make the journey to the expected stifling heat of North Carolina.

"The injury may have caused by the work Andrew is doing on his swing," said manager Andrew Chandler. "He went to Germany a bit sore and it didn't get better.

"Because of the breathing problems we felt that it was better in the long-term to pull out."

The US Open counts for the European Ryder Cup table as well as the American points race. Coltart, hoping to join stablemates Lee Westwood and Darren in the side, currently lies ninth.

But he could easily now be pushed out of the top 10 who automatically earn places in the side on August 22.

Coltart, whose sister Laurae married Westwood in January, made his one previous appearance in the US Open two years ago at Congressional, making the cut but finishing only 75th.

He has only ever played one other major in America - last year's US PGA in Seattle, where he came 69th.

His withdrawal means there are 16 Europeans in the field, Swedes Per-Ulrik Johansson and Gabriel Hjertstedt having come through the qualifying tournament last week to join those already exempt.