Or perhaps we should say he won't be completing it - and not because he doesn't want to.

The Kentucky veteran was forced to withdraw on Thursday night after struggling through the first round with a painful eye infection.

His eye problem began on Tuesday and clearly upset the recent, three-time PGA Tour winner. He was only able to manage a 9-over 79

Perry bogeyed five of his final six holes during a back nine that was interrupted by Thursday'S 85-minute storm delay.

"I have had Lasik surgery and have been wearing Lasik lenses, which have a hard center and flatten out at the end," Perry explained to reporters.

"I had got some infection in there and my doctor (ophthalmologist Dr. Robert Erickson of Birmingham, Michigan) said that I needed to let my eyes rest by keeping the contacts out.

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

In addition, Perry is well aware that he needs to recover quickly, facing as he does, one of the most important season-ending stretches of his career.

It includes the Ryder Cup next month in his home state of Kentucky and with with Tiger Woods sidelined, he is also in a strong position to enter the FedExCup Playoffs as the points leader.

"I love the PGA Championship and I hate to not be continuing. But I have got to get ready for the Ryder Cup," Perry said.