Perry no-show gets thumbs down at Open

SOUTHPORT, England (AFP) — Red-hot Kenny Perry's decision to snub the British Open was met with astonishment here on Monday as Royal Birkdale geared up for Thursday's tee-off in the world's oldest and most prestigious tournament.

The 47-year-old American won his third title in his past five starts when he captured the 4.2 million dollar John Deere Classic in a play-off in Illinois on Sunday.

Normally he would have jumped on a plane for Britain to join the rest of the top American players at The Open, but Perry had already made it clear that he had other intentions.

Instead he said he had commitments to play in a US PGA tournament in Milwaukee to further his ambitions of playing in the Ryder Cup in his home state of Kentucky in September.

Countryman Jim Furyk, who will likely be a team-mate ...