June 28, 2011 -- Updated 1537 GMT (2337 HKT)
Spanish golfer Jose Maria Olazabal has won the Masters on two occasions in his career.
(CNN) -- European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal could miss July's British Open after he withdrew from a qualifying competition in Littlestone, England.
The 45-year-old has suffered with arthritic pains throughout his career, and has also pulled out of this weekend's French Open at Le Golf National.
The Spaniard can now only reach golf's oldest major with a top-five finish at the Scottish Open, set to start on July 7.
Olazabal turned professional in 1985 and was awarded the Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year trophy before going on to win 23 times on the European Tour.
The two-time Masters champion has twice finished in the top three at the British Open, in 1992 and 2005, and was inducted into the world golf hall of fame in 2009.
During his distinguished career Olazabal has represented Europe in the Ryder Cup on seven occasions, including three wins in 1987, 1997 and 2006.
Olazabal served as one of Colin Montgomerie's vice-captains for the 2010 competition at Celtic Manor, where Europe claimed a one-point victory over the United States.
Olazabal was a close friend and compatriot of Seve Ballesteros, the winner of five majors, who died after a prolonged battle with brain cancer on May 7.
Credit: CNN (www.cnn.com)
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