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Louis Oosthuizen withdraws from the Open Championship at Birkdale

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 14, 2026, 12:33 AM

Last updated Jul 14, 2026

Louis Oosthuizen withdraws from the Open Championship at Birkdale

Summary

Louis Oosthuizen has withdrawn from the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale due to a back injury. The former champion announced his decision on social media, expressing disappointment at missing two upcoming events, including the LIV Golf UK event the following week. South African Aldrich Potgieter will take Oosthuizen's place as the first alternate after finishing third in Monday’s qualifier. Oosthuizen's injury history has impacted his recent performances, with major tournaments proving challenging since joining LIV Golf in 2022. He has only made the cut in one of his last five major appearances. The next scheduled event for Oosthuizen on the LIV Golf circuit is in early August, pending his recovery.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Oosthuizen cites a back injury as the reason for his withdrawal.
•Aldrich Potgieter enters the field as Oosthuizen's replacement.
•Oosthuizen's injury history has affected his performance in recent majors.
•He has missed the cut in three of the last four Opens.
•His next scheduled LIV Golf appearance is in New York in early August.

Latest Updates

12:33 AMYahoo Sports — Why Did Former Open Champion Pull Out? Who Replaces Him at Birkdale?

What they're saying

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Why did a former champion withdraw from the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, and who replaces him in the field? The post Why Did Former Open Champion Pull Out? Who Replaces Him at Birkdale? appeared first on HEAVY.
— Yahoo Sports

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