Chinese-born prodigy Andy Zhang will replace the injured Paul Casey in the draw for this weekend's US Open, becoming the youngest player to compete in the event since World War Two.
The 14-year-old Zhang, who currently resides in Florida, narrowly missed on qualification in the play-offs for the event.
Casey, a former world number three, suffered a dislocated shoulder in a snowboarding accident over Christmas last year and is not yet fit to compete in one of the world's most prestigious events.
"You're always disappointed to miss time due to injury, but it's especially true when you have to withdraw from the US Open," Casey commented.
"I've been trying to play my way back and I feel like I probably came back too soon originally.
"It's affecting my ability right now to be ready for the test of a major. I do feel like I'm very nearly ready, but not quite ready for this week."
The Englishman missed the first two months of the new season and then missed the cut in the first four events on his return, including The Masters at Augusta.
Things were looking up for Casey when he finished 25th in Korea during April, but he suffered another set-back when he was forced to withdraw from the Players Championship after only nine holes.
Subsequently he withdrew from the Volvo World Match Play and missed the cut in BMW PGA Championship after rounds of 78 and 76. That remains the 34-year-old's last competitive action.
Casey is ranked 58th in the latest world rankings but is likely to fall even further following his no-show this weekend and is even more unlikely to be in Colin Montgomerie's Ryder Cup plans for the foreseeable future.
Zhang is joined by fellow amateur Jordan Spieth in the main draw, who replaces injured Texan Brandt Snedeker.
golf365.com