Golf-Briton Ferrie pulls out of Waialae due to sickness

HONOLULU, Jan 12 (Reuters) - PGA Tour rookie Kenneth Ferrie of Britain withdraw from the Sony Open before Saturday's third round because of a stomach virus.

Ferrie, tied for 20th place overnight, pulled out of after vomiting while preparing for his scheduled teeoff time at Waialae Country Club, PGA Tour officials said.

A double winner on the European Tour, the 29-year-old Englishman had earned his Tour card by tying for 14th at the 2007 qualifying tournament.

Opening scores of 66 and 70 at Waialae had left him promisingly placed at four-under-par 136, seven strokes off the lead.

Ferrie burst on to the global stage with a share of sixth place in the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot where he started the final round tied for the lead with Phil Mickelson.

After clinching his maiden European Tour victory in a three-way playoff for the 2003 Spanish Open, he won the biggest title of his career at the 2005 European Open.

Ferrie is scheduled to play in next week's Bob Hope Classic in Palm Desert, California from Jan. 16-20. (Editing by John O'Brien)