Simpson opts out of Open

US Open champion Webb Simpson has all but confirmed he will miss the Open Championship to be present at the birth of his second child.

The 26-year-old claimed his first major with a one-shot victory at San Francisco's Olympic Club on Sunday as he kept the likes of Graeme McDowell at bay on the final afternoon. It was a superb, composed performance with many of the top stars unable to cope with the tricky conditions throughout the four days. But it seems unlikely that he will be able to go for back-to-back majors as family matters will intervene, with wife Dowd due to give birth just after the conclusion of the Open, which runs from July 19-22 at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Simpson was philosophical about missing the event and feels his decision was the proverbial 'no-brainer'. "I'm a guy who loves my family and we're probably only going to have a couple more babies, so I have the rest of my life to play in the British Open," he said. "I don't want to miss the birth of the second child, so it's an easy decision." Simpson has been tipped to win many more big titles and majors in what should be a glittering career but, while admitting that he would have loved to tee it up at the Lancashire venue, he is adamant that staying at home is the right thing to do. "After winning it's certainly a little harder not to go because I'd love to go and try to win another major, but in the grand scheme of things and grand scheme of life it's a decision that I know I'll always be happy that I made," he added.