Former champion forced out of The Open before second round
Former champion John Daly has become the third player to withdraw from The Open Championship at Royal Troon because of a knee injury.
Former champion John Daly has withdrawn from The Open.
The news was confirmed in a release by the R&A before the second round.
Daly was forced to withdraw because of a knee injury, the statement added.
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He becomes the second senior player to withdraw, following Ernie Els' departure this morning.
DP World Tour pro Romain Langasque also bowed out of The Open on the first day whilst playing the signature Postage Stamp hole.
The 29-year-old Frenchman cited a back injury for his withdrawal after twinging it on the fourth hole.
Daly, 58, and The Big Easy, 54, both shot opening rounds of 11-over 82 on Thursday.
For his part, Daly's round contained seven bogeys and one quadruple bogey on the 18th hole after he lost his tee shot.
Els will be particularly disappointed about his withdrawal, given he came into the tournament a week after he claimed his first senior major at the Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club in Ohio.
Daly also withdrew from this year's PGA Championship after a first round score of 82.
He has one top-25 finish in 11 starts on the PGA Tour Champions this year.
Daly has struggled for years with osteoarthritis in his left knee.
He also has type 2 diabetes.
Before the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush, he asked the R&A if he would be able to play the major whilst riding in a golf cart.
Whilst the governing body expressed sympathy, they ultimately refused, explaining how walking the course is an 'integral part' of the championship and central to 'the tradition of links golf'.
At the time, he said he would try and play through the pain but ultimately decided to withdraw.
He was upset with the decision, writing on X: "All who have earned the right to compete should be afforded that right to compete and give it their best shot.
"While I trust the R&A's decision was made with good intentions, I could not disagree more with their conclusions."
Els won The Open in 2002 and 2012. Daly won the 1995 Open at St Andrews.
Daly has two years left until his exemption to play in The Open expires.
The Senior Open will be played next week at Carnoustie.
