Perry opts to skip British Open

The British Open in two weeks' time will be without not only America's best player, Tiger Woods, but also American's hottest player.

Kenny Perry won his second title in five weeks on Sunday and is now fourth on their Ryder Cup standings, but he did not try to qualify for the US Open and he says he will not be crossing the Atlantic.

Rather than play at Royal Birkdale, he has chosen to play in the US Bank Championship in Milwaukee.

"I've already committed to Milwaukee and I'm not going to back out on them," said the 47-year-old world number 19. "Next year I'll probably play all the majors. That's just the way it was this year."

After missing the cut on his Open debut at Birkdale in 1991, Perry did not appear again until 2003.

He was eighth at Sandwich, 16th and 11th the following two years, but bowed out at halfway at Hoylake and did not play last year.

One player who will be appearing at Birkdale is Davis Love, who will contest his 22nd consecutive championship after surviving a play-off in Michigan yesterday.

The 36-hole American qualifier at Dearborn ended with five players on nine-under par going into extra holes for four places.

"They've only got four majors and it's important to get in them," said Love. "It's the oldest tournament in the world, so I'm excited."

Kevin Stadler, son of former Masters champion Craig, also progressed from the play-off.

Paul Goydos, the American beaten by Sergio Garcia in a play-off for the Players Championship in Florida eight weeks ago, won the event on 13-under after following a 65 with a 66.

Swede Jesper Parnevik, twice a runner-up, failed to make it after scoring 72 and 76, while US Tour-based Scot Martin Laird managed only 76-69 for a one-over total.

Seven places at Birkdale were up for grabs at Dearborn, as they were at the TPC Michigan lay-out.

England's Kenneth Ferrie and Greg Owen were competing there, but did not even complete 36 holes, while Ryder Cup hopeful Daniel Chopra did not make it through
either.

His fellow Swede Fredrik Jacobson lost in a play-off where five were going for only one spot. It went to American Tom Gillis.

Jeff Overton was the star of the show, winning by six after rounds of 63 and 67.