Major champion forced out of LIV Golf New York with back injury

Louis Oosthuizen has been forced to withdraw from LIV Golf's tournament in New York with a back injury. 

The South African sustained the injury last month and it prevented the 43-year-old from teeing it up at the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale. 

Oosthuizen arrived in Bedminster last week and was expected play the opening round at Trump National Golf Club alongside Scott Vincent and Richard Bland. 

But he is unable to return to the fold just yet and will be replaced in the Southern Guards GC line-up by his compatriot Martin Vorster. 

The 24-year-old also stepped in for Oosthuizen at LIV Golf UK and shared 39th place at JCB Golf & Country Club in Staffordshire. 

Oosthuizen isn't the only notable absentee this week. 

Six-time major champ Phil Mickelson continues to take time away from the sport. 

Mickelson has sat out nearly the entire season, citing family health matters.

LIV Golf New York is the breakaway tour's 10th event of the season. 

Jon Rahm heads into the week as the pre-tournament favourite and is widely expected to secure his third individual LIV Golf title this weekend.

Yet once again, the action off the course threatens to overshadow the golf, with developments away from the fairways dominating the headlines.

The future of the league is far from certain after LIV's primary backers, Saudi Arabia's PIF, announced in March it would no longer bankroll the venture after the conclusion of the season. 

LIV have been on the hunt for new investors ever since and there seems to be optimism that something is brewing. 

Bryson DeChambeau led a players' only meeting on Tuesday to provide an update on their future. 

Several players refused interview requests from reporters waiting outside. 

LIV's CEO, Scott O'Neil, is scheduled to address the media on Wednesday. 

The aforementioned Bland, 53, did offer a few words though. 

Bland said DeChambeau "ran through what he knows", adding: Obviously, we’re trying to do it as a group, but we're individuals as well. 

"We're in this together; we're fully backing Scott. I think probably in the next two to three weeks, we'll have a bigger picture.

"We're just in that kind of stage at the minute that we're positive with what's going on, but we just need everything to be fully signed off so you can go forward."

Former PGA Tour member Ben An said the mood in the room was "fun". He joked: "No one's throwing fists or anything."

There was also no word on whether LIV's Team Championship, scheduled for 27-30 August in Michigan, will go ahead. 

Cameron Smith said in his pre-tournament news conference: "We've been told to prepare as though it's going ahead. 

"So we're expecting it to happen. 

"I'm really unsure, but we had a great year there last year in Detroit, and we're hoping we get back there. 

"It's a great golf course, a great venue, and the crowds really turned up as well. Yeah, would be disappointed if it wasn't.

"We're expecting to play. Hopefully we get there."