Now Casey doubtful for PGA

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bruced
August 7, 2009

Paul Casey is doubtful for the PGA Championship after withdrawing from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

England’s Paul Casey is doubtful for the PGA Championship after withdrawing from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational with a rib injury on Thursday.

The world number three was forced to abandon the tournament at Firestone Country Club in Ohio just six holes into his opening round.

And, after being taken away from the course on a golf cart, Casey has revealed that he had suffered the intercostal muscle problem he had prior to last month’s Open at Turnberry.

“It’s flaring up again,” he told Sky Sports News.

“I actually did it more than two weeks ago. I did it just before The Open on the range. It just went.

“I battled my way through The Open and didn’t really tell anybody about it.

“I didn’t do too much the last couple of weeks. I tried to rest it and then it flared up again on Monday.

“I played nine on Monday, three on Tuesday and one hole yesterday, so it is what it is.

“The guys have been great. They give it ultrasound to warm it up then some massage on the tissue, and we strap it up and try to put it in position to take the pressure off it.

“It hasn’t been too bad on the range but, as soon as I got out there, I cooled down and it started to tighten up.

“My fear was that I didn’t want to do any more damage than I’d already done.”

Casey has been warned by his physio that he could be sidelined for up to a month with the problem but, with the PGA Championship just days away, it appears he may battle through again.

“He said that to heal properly could be two to four weeks,” he said.

“We’ve got too much big stuff coming up – the PGA next week, the FedEx Cup and then Race to Dubai.

“This was the first of seven tournaments in nine weeks, so it’s a big important stretch and this is very frustrating.”

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