Despite pulling out of the tournament, Seve Ballesteros plans to be at St. Andrews for the Open Championship. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ballesteros' withdrawal opens door for Olazabal

Citing poor form or late, three-time champion Seve Ballesteros pulled out of the Open Championship on Thursday, allowing fellow Spaniard and two-time major winner Jose Maria Olazabal into the field at St. Andrews.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) -- Three-time champion Seve Ballesteros withdrew from next month's British Open at St. Andrews and will be replaced in the field by fellow Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal.

The 48-year-old Ballesteros won the British Open in 1979, '84 and '88.

Ballesteros wrote to tournament organizers, saying he wasn't in good enough form to play the July 14-17 tournament at the Old Course at St. Andrews.

"Unfortunately, I am still not at the competitive level I would expect, especially at a venue like St. Andrews, which hosts the best event in the world," Ballesteros said Thursday.

He hasn't played competitively since his own event, The Seve Trophy, in late 2003, and he injured his knee earlier this year when he slipped on a practice tee.

Olazabal was the highest ranked player to miss out on an exempt place in international qualifying at Sunningdale on Monday.

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