Goosen out of US Open

Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa withdrew from the 113th US Open on Thursday because of a back injury, the US Golf Association announced. It was the same injury that prompted the 44-year-old "Goose" to withdraw from the Players Championship and Wells Fargo Championship earlier this month. Goosen's pullout means there will be one more spot available for qualifiers on Monday at 11 sectional tournament sites around the United States. Goosen, the 2001 and 2004 US Open winner, detailed his back problem earlier this month in a posting on his website. "Unfortunately, I have bruised a bone in my back and my consultant has suggested it will take a couple of weeks to heal, so I am resting," Goosen said two weeks ago. Source: AFP