Perry withdraws from Oakland Hills after a 79

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan (Reuters) - American Kenny Perry, one of the hottest players in the game, withdrew from the U.S. PGA Championship on Thursday because of an eye problem.

The 47-year-old pulled out of the final major of the year after carding a nine-over-par 79 in the opening round at Oakland Hills Country Club.

"I have had Lasik (laser eye) surgery and have been wearing lenses which have a hard centre and flatten out at the end," Perry said in a statement.

"I had some infection in there and my doctor said that I needed to let my eyes rest by keeping the contacts out.

"He gave me cortisone and steroids which were very painful and it was annoying to be trying to fight a tough golf course and have my eye aggravating me at the same time.

"I love the PGA Championship and I hate not to be continuing but I have got to get ready for the Ryder Cup," added Perry, who lost a playoff to fellow American Mark Brooks for the 1996 PGA Championship at Valhalla.

Perry, who skipped the U.S. and British Opens as he built his entire season around making the U.S. Ryder Cup team, has won three titles in his last eight PGA Tour starts.

He clinched the Memorial tournament in early June, the Buick Open four weeks later and the John Deere Classic in a three-way playoff midway through last month.

This year's Ryder Cup is being staged for the first time at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky from September 19-21.

Perry, who lives in nearby Franklin, is eager to represent his country against Europe in the biennial competition after losing the only two matches he played on his Cup debut in 2004.

(Editing by John O'Brien)