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Denmark's Thomas Bjorn has been given a place at the Open Championship at Sandwich after Vijay Singh was forced to withdraw through injury.

In 2003, when the event was last held at Royal St George's, the 40-year-old Dane blew a three-shot lead with four holes to play.

Singh, who was joint runner-up that year alongside Bjorn, has recently been struggling with injury and poor form.

"I'm just delighted but you don't want to see players pull out," said Bjorn.

"Since Sandwich I have missed some Opens and it makes you realise how much you want to play in them.

"The year after what happened here was difficult, but these are the events you want to be playing in.

"When I think back I just count myself lucky that I got myself in a position where I had a chance to win. Loads of people don't get that chance."

Singh, the former Masters and double USPGA winner, is currently down at 63rd in the world rankings and saw his run of 67 consecutive major appearances end when he decided not to play in qualifying for June's US Open.

The next players on the reserve list are American pair Scott Verplank and Ricky Barnes.