Welshman Phillip Price is already out of the US Open in another blow to his hopes of a Ryder Cup debut.

Price slumped to seven-over-par after 14 holes at Southern Hills on Thursday in the first round.

When play was suspended because of electrical storms he told officials he was quitting because of illness.

The 34-year-old is currently sixth in the Ryder Cup standings, but has now failed to cash in at two $5m events this season.

Price was also unwell when he lost to Andrew Coltart in the first round of the Accenture World Matchplay in Melbourne in January.

However, European captain Sam Torrance believes Price, fourth at the Volvo PGA Championship last month and winner of the Portuguese Open in April, may have already done enough to book his place.

Three of the four players immediately below Price in the standings - Andrew Oldcorn, Paul McGinley and Robert Karlsson - are not playing in Tulsa.

The other, Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal, managed only a 77 in his first round at Southern Hills.