Rose out of BMW PGA, replaced by Ramsey

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VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) -- Justin Rose has pulled out of this week's BMW PGA Championship because of a back injury.

The English golfer had been one of the top players entered in the European Tour's flagship tournament, which starts Thursday at Wentworth.

Rose finished second in the PGA behind Anders Hansen after a playoff two years ago.

Rose had already withdrawn from Wednesday's pro-am in hopes that an extra day's rest might help, but he notified tour officials that he was pulling out.

He was replaced in the field by Scotland's Richie Ramsay, who will play with Thomas Bjorn and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in the opening two rounds.