It’s been a rough stretch for Daniel Berger, who has been working through some back issues.
The four-time PGA Tour winner and member of the victorious 2021 U.S. Ryder Cup team pulled out of the John Deere Classic last week in an attempt to be ready for the upcoming 150th British Open Championship at St. Andrews.
On Friday, it was announced Berger has pulled out of that field in Scotland as well. He will be replaced in the Open by Sahith Theegala, who is currently No. 62 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Berger withdrew from the Vidanta Mexico Open in May before the event and also pulled out of his title defense in February at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. At the time, he said he was dealing with a joint sprain in his lower back. He told PGA Tour.com that earlier this year he suffered a sacroiliac joint sprain in the part of the body that links the lower spine to the pelvis and played through it at Torrey Pines during the Farmers Insurance Open.
Berger, who has slipped to 25th in the world, has played well when he’s been fit enough to finish a tournament, placing T-5 at the Memorial and in the top 25 at the Charles Schwab Challenge. He did, however, fail to make the cut at the U.S. Open at the Country Club of Brookline.
