Faldo, Langer not in Dunhill Masters

JAKARTA (JP): Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer, two leading European golfers, will definitely pull out of the Alfred Dunhill Masters due to family commitments, the organizers announced yesterday.

Faldo, three times winner of the Open championship and twice U.S. Masters champion, who it was reported would separate from his wife of nearly 10 years, Gill, and Germany' Langer were previously tipped to star in the Masters to be staged at the par- 72 Emeralda course near here next month.

A statement released by John Simpson ended weeks of speculation that Faldo, 38, one of the world's top golfers, was to end his marriage after being linked with 20-year-old American student golfer Brena Cepelak, AFP reported.

Ian Woosnam, past winner of the U.S. Masters and World Number One, has accepted a last minute invitation to play at the Masters, after both Faldo and Langer withdrew.

Woosnam, a member of the victorious European team in last month's Ryder Cup matches, will be playing at the Emeralda layout for the first time.

He joins star players Vijay Singh, winner of two events on the U.S. PGA tour this year, Australians Ian Baker-Finch, Wayne Grady, Graig Parry and Michael Campbell of New Zealand.

The Masters is scheduled to be played on Nov. 2 to Nov. 5, sponsored by the English luxury goods company, is sanctioned by the Indonesia Golf Association and the PGA Australasian Tour. (rsl)