Luke Donald will miss next week's Open Championship at Royal Birkdale with a wrist injury.

Donald suffered the injury in last month's US Open and has not played since, a major blow to his chances of qualifying for a third Ryder Cup appearance in September.

"I first felt a 'pop' in my wrist on the 15th tee during the final round of the US Open, and over the past three weeks I have been meeting with hand specialists to determine the best course of treatment for the injury," said Donald.

"I consider the Open Championship to be at the top of the list of the four biggest tournaments I play each year, so it is obviously extremely disappointing to not be able to be at Royal Birkdale.

"The fact that it is a Ryder Cup year is also frustrating, but you can't account for injuries, and the important thing is for me to focus on what's best for my long-term health."

Donald was a member of the last two Ryder Cup teams, making his debut in the record nine-point victory at Oakland Hills in Detroit and playing in the equally-emphatic success at the K Club in 2006.

However, he is currently ninth in the world points list from which only the top five players will qualify for Nick Faldo's team, and now looks certain to need a wild card from Faldo to be at Valhalla from September 19th-21st.

The qualification period ends on August 31st after the final round of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.