Jason Day skips British Open to be with new son

AUSTRALIAN golfer Jason Day has withdrawn from the British Open to stay home with his newborn son Dash and wife Ellie.

Jason Day

AUSTRALIAN golfer Jason Day has withdrawn from the British Open to stay home with his newborn son Dash and wife Ellie.

Meanwhile, Marc Leishman has been cleared by US Immigration to travel and will take his place at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

Day's wife Ellie gave birth to Dash James Day in Ohio on Tuesday and, although both mother and child are doing well, the world No.21 has chosen to spend the formative weeks with his new family.

"Obviously I'd love to be playing in the British Open but as I've said all along family comes first and I want to be with Ellie and Dash right now to enjoy this wonderful miracle," Day said.

"I will return to golf when the time is right."

The Queenslander has always said family would come first, saying in February that his participation in his third Open Championship was in extreme doubt.

"Golf is one thing but family is everything to me," he said.

"Golf isn't going to be there if I break my leg or if I lose the plot and forget how to swing a club. My family will be there. It's family first every time."

Day is expected to take at least the rest of July off from competitive golf, perhaps returning at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, from August 2-5 not far from his home.

The season's final major, the US PGA Championship, will be held the following week in Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

Leishman officially qualified for the year's third major as the leader of a mini money list last Sunday but had to sweat on an expedited "advanced parole" notice from the US government.

The Victorian is in the process of applying for a green card in the United States, which without special exception restricts overseas travel during processing time.

However, he confirmed the paperwork had arrived and he will head to England this weekend.

"It's all official, they rushed it through and it's all good," Leishman confirmed.

"It was great to get it in the mail and know I can play. I am pumped and looking forward to it.

"The British Open is one of my favourite events, I love it, and I love links golf.

"It's been a while since I played links golf but growing up in the wind, you never forget how to play in it, and after a few days' preparation over there I should be ready and raring to go.