Jack Nicklaus has had to withdraw from the British Open, which starts at Royal Birkdale this day week, because of hip problems. Nicklaus (58), has played every British Open since 1962 and competed in 154 consecutive majors, winning 18 of them. It is only two years since he remarkably climbed off his sick bed in Lytham - he had a back injury then - and was only one stroke off the lead at the halfway stage of the Open.
The American has been suffering with hip joint and cartilage degeneration for some time.
"The hip starts to play up after only 15 holes or so, and I don't want to play and not be able to compete at the highest level," Nicklaus said from his Golden Bear International headquarters at Palm Beach, Florida, in an announcement relayed to the Open venue yesterday.
"After 42 years of playing major championship golf I feel that my ability to compete on a continuous basis is marginal at best.
"As much as I enjoy playing in the world's majors, I feel it is time to end my streak of championships, for which I have been eligible, at 154.
"I was going to end that streak at 153 at this year's Masters, until the USGA kindly gave me exemption to play in the US Open. I felt I could not turn down an opportunity to play in my own country's championship.
"The preparation time and physical demands which are required to be competitive on a continuous basis are difficult to satisfy, and so I have elected not to play in the British Open or the US PGA Championship this year either.
"Playing in 154 major championships in a row has been motivating. I didn't want to end the streak by having it said that Jack Nicklaus could no longer play the game.
"Instead, I wanted to step back with the feeling that the competitive spirit and ability still thrived within me and I wanted to end the streak on my own terms."
Nicklaus has only once been forced to withdraw from a major, after the first round of the 1983 Masters. He has made the cut in 130 of his 154 majors, including making the cut in 10 of the last 12.
He goes out on a stirring note. In this year's Masters he rolled back the years to finish a remarkable tied sixth at Augusta. In last month's US Open at San Francisco's Olympic Club, he tied 43rd.
The "Golden Bear", who is exempt for the British Open until aged 65, added: "I certainly will miss playing in the Open at Royal Birkdale. I've always loved British seaside courses and competing in the British Open has regularly been one of the highlights of my year."
Winner of eight senior majors, Nicklaus this week plays in the Ford Seniors at Michigan.
He will still make the trip to England during British Open week to play an exhibition match with Ian Woosnam on July 13th in an opening ceremony for the Carden Park, Manchester, course he has co-designed with son Steve.
Another casualty for next week's British Open is Spain's Miguel Martin, who has pulled out because of injury.
He has not played a tournament since the Turespana Masters in early May, suffering further wrist tendinitis, an injury which prevented him playing in last year's Ryder Cup.
