A FORMER The Open winner pulled out of the 2025 Championship just days before the start.
And his replacement in the field has been named.
, 55, lifted the famous Claret Jug twice.
The South African reigned supreme at Muirfield in 2002 after a four-man play-off.
He then added his second win a decade later with a storming comeback to pip Adam Scott at Royal Lytham.
Els also has two US Opens to his name – in 1994 and 1997.
But those Open victories earned him an exemption into the tournament every year until he is 60.
However, Els will not tee it up at Royal Portrush this week.
That is because he withdrew from the starting list during Sunday’s .
No official reason for his late decision at the final Major of 2025 has been given.
Els played at En-Joie in Endicott, New York in the DICK’s Open on the PGA Tour Champions last weekend.
He finished T16 on eight-under-par.
But with Els not featuring at Royal Portrush, first alternate Si Woo Kim has been called in.
Kim came T34 at The Renaissance Club for the Scottish Open.
A four-time winner on the PGA Tour, the best Major result of his career came at this year’s PGA Championship.
Kim’s four-under-par score saw him in T8 alongside the likes of Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick and .
