Laird withdraws from French Open
Scottish golfer Martin Laird withdrew from this week's French Open due to the death of his grandfather.
The US-based Laird was to make his first appearance in the event but advised European Tour officials he would not be traveling to Versailles and competing on the National course.
The absence of Laird, world ranked 35th, will mean he will struggle to qualify automatically for the Ryder Cup as well as contest the mandatory dozen tournaments to retain full European Tour membership.
Since rejoining the tour in January, Laird has played in only five tour events with only one on European soil, where he missed the cut in last month's BWM PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Laird was 70th on the European points list and 22nd on the secondary world points list with the leading five on each list qualifying automatically.
Laird has entered next week's Scottish Open and the following week's British Open, and with starts in the Bridgestone Invitational and the US PGA Championship it will mean he will have contested nine events with no indication, at this stage, if he will again compete in European Tour-counting events this year.
