Duval pulls out

DIVOTS

David Duval, the 2001 British Open champion, pulled out of this year's British Open due to back injury. The 32-year-old Duval has seen a big slump since his British Open victory at Royal Lytham three years ago.

In 2004, he played only the US Open where he missed the cut on 25 over par. Duval got married this March and said his new family is his main focus now. Duval has crashed from first in the world rankings five years ago to 490th.

£24,000 for a golf ball

A golf ball dating back to 1790 was purchased for £24,000 by Jamie Ortiz-Patiños, the owner of the famed Valderrama Golf Club in Spain. The ball, valued at £20,000, was put on auction at Lyon and Turnbull's sporting sale in Edinburgh this week.

Made out of leather and feathers, the ball carries the inscription: "Presented to Rev HM Lamont by JW Inglis Cb, an old student in St Andrews".

The ball's American seller, Frank Hardison, bought it from the Kerrs, one of the respected golfing families in St Andrews in the early 1960s.

Els upset

Ernie Els was upset at allegations that he "gave up" during the final round of 80 at the US Open. The remark was made by the United States Golf Association official, Tom Meeks, who said Els seemed to give up after a double bogey on the first hole.

That dismal final round cost Els the chance to overtake Tiger. Els said that the allegations were baseless. "I've never given up on any round of golf in my life. If I did give up, I would have shot 100," he said.

Lou Gehrig's disease

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, claimed another victim. Former PGA Tour player Jeff Julian died of ALS this week. Last year, Bruce Edwards, who caddied for Tom Watson died of the same disease.

Julian, who played on the PGA Tour in 1996 and 2002, accepted the Ben Hogan Award from the Golf Writers Association of America last year. The award goes to a player who remains active in the game despite physical handicap or serious illness.

Bogeyman