SPAIN'S Jose Maria Olazabal, who has not played tournament golf since last September because of rheumatoid arthritis in both his feet, withdrew yesterday from next week's British Open at Royal Lytham.
Royal and Ancient club secretary Michael Bonallack said: "We are sorry about his continuing problems but, having talked with his manager (Sergio Gomez), there is cause for optimism and we hope he will continue to improve.
"Jose Maria has tried everything to be fit in time, playing three times a week, but not on consecutive days, and after 12 or 13 holes he starts to have problems.
Olazabal was in hospital three weeks ago to have a metal staple removed from the big toe which was shortened at the start of last year and examination then showed that there was no deterioration in his arthritic condition.
The 30-year-old was arguably the world's best player when he won the 1994 US Masters, his first major title, but later that year he started limping badly. The operation in January 1995, it was hoped, would cure the problem, but he continued to struggle and eventually withdrew from the European Ryder Cup team last autumn.
He visited the Mayo Clinic in New York and has been having a variety of treatments, including some homeopathic ones, since then in a bid to make a return to the game.
His one appearance this season was in an 18-hole challenge with Seve Ballesteros, Colin Montgomerie and Sam Torrance in the Canary Islands in March, but a succession of target dates for his return to the European tour have come and gone. He has refused all requests for interviews and inevitably there are fears for his whole career.
Olazabal has also received chemotherapy as part of his treatment and was put on a special diet after sending blood samples to a British laboratory. "They advised him to avoid coffee, corn, yeast and onions," stated Gomez. "It all seems to be working because he is considerably better than he was three months ago.
"He accepts he is probably going to have to play in some pain for the rest of his life, but he does not want to make his comeback when the pain is at a level which affects his concentration."
