The former Open champion cited personal reasons for his decision to pull out of the £1m tournament.

Daly was disqualified on his last trip Down Under after failing to sign his card following a nine-over-par round in the Australian PGA Championship.

A diver retrieves Daly's wayward putter

He threw his putter into a lake by the 18th green and stormed off the course in Coolum after finishing 22 shots off the lead at the end of day two.

Meanwhile, Ian Woosnam and Lee Westwood have added their names to a high-class field that includes world number two Ernie Els, winner of four of his last five events.

The defending champion is European number one Retief Goosen.

Also playing are Sergio Garcia, Nick Faldo, joint runner-up to Els at the Heineken Classic in Melbourne on Sunday, and Justin Rose.