Karlsson withdraws from Open and takes time off

FORMER Ryder Cup star Robert Karlsson withdrew from The Open on Wednesday less than 24 hours before he was due to tee off at Royal Lytham.

It means the field is now 156-strong rather than 157 and to accommodate the change, the first-round start time was moved to 6.30am instead of 6.19am.

World No. 54 Karlsson said on his Twitter site: “Have got into some bad habits in my game and routine that I need to address. Taking a few weeks off.”

England’s Barry Lane and American James Driscoll, who were going to play as a two-ball, will be joined by South African Garth Mulroy, while former Irish Open champion Richard Finch moves from 6.30am to 1.10pm, replacing Karlsson alongside American Mark Wilson and South African Branden Grace.