Olazabal withdraws from British Open

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland, July 18 (UPI) -- Jose Maria Olazabal, who has been having knee problems, on Wednesday withdrew from this week's British Open in Scotland.

Olazabal hasn't played competitively since the U.S. Open in June and a knee injury led him to withdraw from tournaments in France and Scotland the last two weeks.

Olazabal's best finish in the British Open was third both in 1992 and 2005.

He was replaced in the British Open field by Tom Pernice.

The 2007 British Open begins Thursday at Carnoustie. Tiger Woods is a two-time defending champion of the event.