Russ Cochran has been forced to withdraw from this week’s Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex due to a recurring back injury, meaning the American will not be taking to the Ailsa Course at Turnberry to defend the title he won at Walton Heath 12 months ago.
Kentucky-born Cochran has been struggling with the problem for a number of weeks now, having already retired from the US Senior Open after two rounds the week before withdrawing ahead of The 141st Open Championship, held last week at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
The 53 year old last year upstaged some of his more illustrious counterparts to become only the second left-hander after Bob Charles to win The Senior Open Championship, prevailing by two strokes from compatriot Mark Calcavecchia and a further two shots clear of Corey Pavin and three-time Senior Open Champion Tom Watson.
