Snead withdraws from U.S. Senior Open

FAR HILLS, N.J., June 24 (UPI) -- A day after becoming only the 11th player to win a Senior PGA Tour event beyond the age of 60, J.C. Snead withdrew from the U.S. Senior Open Championship because of exhaustion.

Snead notified tournament officials of his withdrawal Monday morning.

He won the Greater Baltimore Classic on Sunday with a 12-foot par putt on the final hole, carding a 2-under-par 70 for a 54-hole total of 13-under 203.

Alfred Cotton was added to the U.S. Senior Open field because a spot was being saved for the winner of the Greater Baltimore Classic if he was not already previously exempt.

Snead was already exempt for being in the Top 50 on the money list of the Senior PGA Tour in 2002.

The alternate who will replace Snead is Rick Talt, who competed in sectional qualifying on June 17.

Snead, the nephew of golf legend Sam Snead, who died last month from complications following a stroke, J.C. earned his fourth Senior title on Sunday and first since 1995. At 60 years, 8 months and 8 days, he became the sixth-oldest player to win on the elder circuit and the first 60-something since Jim Colbert at last year's SBC Senior Classic.

Snead's last win had come at the 1995 Senior Players Championship. He won twice that season and was in position to claim the money title before breaking three ribs in a motorcycle accident.

He earned eight titles on the PGA Tour between 1971-87.