Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal, the 2012 European Ryder Cup captain, has withdrawn from Tuesday's Local Final Qualifying for the Open Championship.

The 45-year-old twice US Masters champion, who has battled with rheumatism for the past 15 years, was due to be one of the 72 players bidding to qualify for Royal St George's at Littlestone Golf Club.

Olazabal (pictured) has also pulled out the French Open, starting on Thursday, and the only way he can now qualify for Royal St George's is by finishing in the top five in next week's Scottish Open.

The former US Open champion Michael Campbell is among 288 players who will be competing over 36 holes on Tuesday for just 12 places in the Open.

The New Zealander is playing at Prince's GC, and qualifying is also taking place at Royal Cinque Ports and Rye.