Gary Player has withdrawn from this week's Senior British Open at Royal County Down because of a rib injury.

The same problem caused him to pull out of the Open qualifying competition in Scotland last week where he had been hoping to secure his 47th consecutive place in the major championship.

Player blamed his withdrawal from the Open qualifying competition on pushing himself too hard.

"I ignored the early signs that something was wrong," said the three-times Open champion.

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

The last of Player's three victories in the Senior British Open was at Royal Portrush in 1997.

Five times Open champion Tom Watson is the big name in this year's Royal County Down field where Australian Ian Stanley will defend the title.

Watson will be making his first appearance in the Senior British Open.