Inbee Park out of Women's British Open with thumb injury

Inbee Park will not defend her title at next week’s Women’s British Open as she continues to recovery from a left thumb injury that has nagged her for almost the entire season.

In a statement, the seven-time major winner said “this has been an incredibly hard decision for me to make and the reason I’ve left it to the very last minute.”

Park, who is currently No. 3 in the Rolex Rankings, has struggled with the injury throughout the season, skipping the U.S. Women’s Open as well. In her previous three starts, Park withdrew from the Kingsmill Championship in May after a first-round 74, pulled out of the Volvik Championship after an opening 84 and missed the cut at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship after shooting a first-round 1-over 72 that officially cemented her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame.

The South Korean intends to represent her country in the 60-player women’s Olympic golf tournament in Rio de Janeiro.

The Ricoh Women’s British Open starts July 28 at Woburn in England.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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