A total of 2,221 players - just short of last year's 2,340 record - have entered for the British Open championship's return to Carnoustie next month.

They include 14 former winners, but not three-time champion Jack Nicklaus, who officially withdrew yesterday after failing to survive the halfway cut at the US Open. With American amateur champion Hank Kuehne turning professional 100 players are currently exempt.

Justin Rose returns after finishing fourth last year. He turned professional afterwards but his Open place was not dependent on him remaining an amateur.

Kuehne's decision means that the only exempt amateurs are British champion Graeme Storm, and Ireland's European champion Paddy Gribben.