Steve Stricker withdraws from The Open Championship

Steve Stricker has withdrawn from next week's Open Championship as he continues to cut back his commitments on tour.

The American will miss the third Major tournament of the season for the second successive year after he missed the event 12 months ago to celebrate his 20th wedding anniversary.

Stricker is replaced at Royal Liverpool by Ryo Ishikawa, who won on the Japan Golf Tour on the weekend to climb up the world rankings to 76th and earn himself a spot as the first reserve.

If another player pulls out of the competition before the first round next Thursday, Ross Fisher will be selected to join the field at Hoylake.