HOYLAKE, England (AP) — Steve Stricker has withdrawn from the British Open next week at Royal Liverpool. It’s the second straight year he has decided not to play as he cuts back his schedule.
Stricker was replaced in the field by Ryo Ishikawa of Japan.
Stricker last year began reducing his schedule to spend more time with his family. He thought about playing The Open this year, though it looked unlikely when he added The Greenbrier Classic to his schedule and his wife caddied for him.
Ishikawa won in Japan last week for his first victory since November 2012. That moved him to a No. 76 world ranking and enabled him to be the first alternate. Ross Fisher of England is next on the reserve list.
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