Associated Press
Thursday, August 3

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. -- David Duval withdrew from The International on Thursday because of a back injury that has been bothering him since the British Open.

	Duval

Duval, the runner-up last year, walked off the Castle Pines course after six holes. He had made five pars and one bogey in a tournament that uses the modified Stableford scoring system.

His departure left playing partners Mark O'Meara and Olin Browne as a twosome for the first two rounds.

"I'm disappointed I can't continue," Duval said through the PGA Tour. "However, I need to get this taken care of. Apparently, I need more rest. I'm going to work hard to get this resolved before the PGA Championship."

Duval said he first noticed pain in his lower back after the U.S. Open, and it later was diagnosed as a back sprain.

Despite the injury, he was in the final pairing with Tiger Woods at the British Open, and cut Woods' six-stroke lead in half at the turn before Duval came undone in the bunkers on the back nine at St. Andrews and tied for 11th.

The PGA Championship is in two weeks at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.