PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland -- Two-time champion Ernie Els has withdrawn from the Open Championship, the second time this year he has chosen not to compete in big championships.
The R&A did not give a reason Sunday for the withdrawal of the 55-year-old South African. Els was replaced in the field by Si Woo Kim, who was next on the alternate list taken from last week's world ranking.
Els won the Open at Muirfield in 2002 after a four-man playoff. He won again in 2012 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes when Adam Scott lost a late lead.