Gary Player has withdrawn from final qualifying for the Open Championship at Muirfield because of a rib injury.

His decision ends the three-time winner's run of 46 consecutive Open appearances.

It began at Hoylake in 1956 and ended at Royal Lytham last year when his tournament exemption expired.

Past champions are allowed to play in the British Open only until the age of 66.

The South African, who won the first of his three titles at Muirfield in 1959, said: "I am just devastated and cannot put into words my deep disappointment.

Aggravated

"I have been working especially hard and practising vigorously for many weeks with the goal of keeping my streak alive.

"I simply pushed myself too hard and ignored the early signs that something was wrong.

"I obviously aggravated what I thought was only a strain and would go away through exercise and practise."

He was scheduled to play 36 holes on Sunday and Monday at Gullane No 1 links course alongside Scotland's Raymond Russell and Wei-Tze Yhe of Taiwan.

Player would have been among 120 final qualifiers bidding to earn one of around seven spots for next week's Muirfield starting line-up.

He won the Open at Muirfield in 1959, at Carnoustie in 1968 and at Royal Lytham in 1974.

Player may also miss the Senior British Open at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland in two weeks' time.