SIMON WHITLOCK has withdrawn from the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts

SIMON WHITLOCK has withdrawn from the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts following an operation on a broken bone in his ankle.

The Australian was injured when he slipped last weekend during the Spanish Darts Trophy Players Championships in Benidorm.

Having initially withdrawn from Sunday's event in Spain, further tests revealed a broken bone in the joint which required minor surgery.

Whitlock, a two-time Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finalist, has now pulled out of the nine-day tournament in Wolverhampton, which begins on Saturday November 12.

"I'm extremely disappointed to be missing Wolverhampton, but will be watching with the fans," said Whitlock, the 2010 World Championship runner-up.

Stoke's Ian White, who won the third-place play-off in Friday's Wildcard Qualifier to be the first reserve, will now be invited to compete in the Grand Slam of Darts.