Ernie Els Withdraws Open Championship Replaced by Si Woo Kim

Ernie Els, the four-time major champion and two-time Open winner, has withdrawn from the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush, a decision that surprised many as no official reason has been disclosed. Els, eligible to compete until age 60, was replaced by four-time PGA Tour winner Si Woo Kim, who has competed in the last three Opens but was set to miss out this year due to a less successful season. Kim, notable for a historic hole-in-one at the 2024 Open, now has an unexpected opportunity to compete at Royal Portrush. Separately, the R&A confirmed that unlike previous Opens, there will be no designated bunker rakers at the 2025 Open, leaving bunker maintenance to players' caddies, a decision criticized by some players including Billy Horschel for potential pace-of-play issues. Additionally, tee times for the Open have been moved earlier to accommodate a local band parade, illustrating the R&A's efforts to balance tournament logistics with community events. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy and Chris Gotterup have generated excitement leading up to the Open, with McIlroy seeking to win the British in his homeland after a strong recent performance.