Greg Norman has pulled out of the British Open at St Andrews starting on Thursday - two years after coming close to winning it at the age of 53.
The 1986 and 1993 winner, whose decision lets in fellow Australian Jason Day to the field, has not played a tournament since shoulder surgery in September.
He will also not be taking part in the four-hole Champions Challenge at the Home of Golf on Wednesday.
With Seve Ballesteros having also pulled out of the Challenge, the charity event will now feature 26 past winners competing in teams as part of the celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the first Open.
"I'm disappointed that I will not be able to participate in this year's Open Championship, but unfortunately it is taking me longer than expected to regain my competitive form," Norman said on the Open Championship website.
"I was especially looking forward to playing St Andrews, celebrating the 150th anniversary and playing the Champions Challenge."
With Day coming into the 156-man field, Florida-based Londoner Brian Davis is now first reserve.
Twice a runner-up on the US Tour this season, Day was planning to travel to the event in any case in the hope of playing, but could yet take the exempt spot on offer at the John Deere Classic in Illinois.
He began with a three under par 68 yesterday on a day when American Paul Goydos - also not qualified for The Open yet - shot an amazing 59.
Day comes in as the next highest-ranked player in the world who was not already exempt.
The 22-year-old won the Byron Nelson Championship in Texas in May.
At Birkdale two years ago Norman, newly-married to tennis great Chris Evert at the time, led with nine holes to play, but slipped back to joint third behind Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter.
He would have been the oldest major champion ever.
Last July, Tom Watson came ever closer just short of his 60th birthday, leading by one with one to play at Turnberry, but bogeying and losing a play-off to Stewart Cink.