South African Richard Sterne and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn have withdrawn from next week's US Open with injuries, the US Golf Association announced Wednesday.
The year's second major championship showdown, to be staged at the famed Pinehurst layout, was already without former world number one Tiger Woods, the 14-time major winner who has not yet recovered from the back surgery that kept him from playing at the Masters in April.
Sterne withdrew because he is rehabilitating from an undisclosed injury while Bjorn cited neck and shoulder injuries.
Each will be replaced by an American.
Sterne's spot will be taken by Scott Langley, who had been first alternate from the Memphis sectional qualifying event and will now make his fourth US Open appearance.
Bjorn will be replaced by amateur Andrew Dorn, the first alternate from sectional qualifying in Springfield, Ohio.
The tournament will start on June 12 at the North Carolina resort.
Source: AFP
