Hoylake absentee Immelman celebrates first child

HOYLAKE, England, July 19 (Reuters) South Africa's Trevor Immelman celebrated the birth of his first child today after withdrawing from the British Open the previous day.

Immelman had been advised by the family doctor that the baby was due late next week but his wife Carminita had a caesarean section in Orlando, Florida yesterday.

''At the end of the day, golf is golf and you must never lose perspective,'' Immelman, 26, said in a statement released by the Southern African Tour.

''The birth of a child is a one-time experience and one I desperately want to be part of. There is life after golf and, for me, family takes top priority.'' Immelman, among the tournament favourites at Hoylake's Royal Liverpool after winning his first PGA Tour title at the Western Open 10 days ago, had considered pulling out last week.

''My wife really wanted me to come over to this tournament,'' the South African said on Monday. ''She knows it's my favourite.'' Immelman learned the news of the early birth of his son Jacob Trevor after completing a practice round at Hoylake on Tuesday afternoon.

He flew back to Florida that evening in the PGA Tour's corporate jet.

A three-times winner on the European Tour, Immelman had been scheduled to tee off at 1431 local (1331 GMT) in today's opening round with Denmark's Thomas Bjorn and American Davis Love III.

He has been replaced in the draw by first alternate Andrew Buckle, whose late inclusion lifts a record Australian contingent to 23 at this week's British Open.

REUTERS DH PM1944