Louis Oosthuizen, the former Open champion, has become the latest major winner to opt out of the Olympic Games in Rio.
Just a day after Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters winner, confirmed that he would be unavailable for selection for the Australian team, Oosthuizen has announced that he will not represent South Africa as golf makes its return to the Games for the first time since 1904.
In a statement released by his management company, the world number 12 said he had informed his country's Olympic committee of his decision after "long deliberations, citing family and schedule issues."
On the European Tour in China, Aberdeen’s Richie Ramsay finished among the clubhouse frontrunners on a weather-disrupted first day at the Shenzhen International. The Scot posted a three-under 69 before play was suspended to sit three shots behind the leading duo of Alexander Levy and Soomin Lee.
Ramsay had been five-under through 13 holes but stumbled to a trio of bogeys at 14, 15 and 16 before repairing some of that damage with a birdie on the 17th.
Stephen Gallacher, making his first appearance after surgery on a niggling hand injury, produced a late flourish as he battled to a two-under 70.
The former Ryder Cup player had spilled two shots on the 15th with a double-bogey but he responded in spirited style and picked up birdies at both the 16th and 17th to dip back under-par.
Meanwhile, European Tour officials have announced that the Fiji International has been added to the 2016 schedule.
The co-sanctioned event will be staged from October 6-9, the same week as the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Andrews.
On the European Challenge Tour, Peter Whiteford produced a grandstand finish to jump into contention at the halfway point of the Red Sea Egyptian Challenge.
The Fifer birdied his last four holes in a five-under 67 for a nine-under 135 to lurk four shots behind English leader Jordan Smith.
On the amateur front, Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey begins the defence of the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Strokeplay title at Troon Portland today.
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