Thomas Bjorn and Richard Sterne out of US Open

Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and South African Richard Sterne have announced that they are withdrawing from playing at this year’s US Open at Pinehurst after suffering injuries

Both Thomas Bjorn and Richard Sterne have joined Tiger Woods with their decisions to withdraw from playing at this year’s US Open, which takes place from June 12-15 at Pinehurst Golf Club, North Carolina.

The news that Bjorn and Sterne have pulled out of the tournament follows the announcement that Tiger Woods has had to withdraw from the US Open to recover from his back surgery.

Thomas Bjorn currently holds the 23^rd place in the world rankings after the BMW PGA Championships at Wentworth in late May.

The 15-time European Tour winner shot a record-breaking 62 in the opening round of the BMW PGA Championship before finishing in third place behind Shane Lowry and champion, Rory McIlroy.

Reflecting on the first round, Bjorn noted, "It was one of those days where you just walk off the golf course and you think, I want to keep playing."

Bjorn, who has withdrawn due to neck and shoulder injuries, has been replaced by American amateur Andrew Dorn.

Dorn won a local qualifier for the US Open at Cincinnati’s Maketewa Country Club , where he shot a course-record 66.

South Africa’s Richard Sterne has also had to withdraw from the tournament due to an undisclosed injury.

Sterne currently occupies the 59^th spot in the world rankings. Sterne turned Pro in 2001 and has since clinched victories in 6 European Tour events.

Sterne’s last performance in March saw the South African take fourth place at the WGC Cadillac Championship in Florida.

Sterne has been replaced by Scott Langley, who is the first alternate selected from the Memphis sectional qualifying event.

Langley made the cut at the 2010 US Open as an amateur where he finished tied for 16^th.