Stenson speaks of his disappointment at missing SA Open

Henrik Stenson, the newly crowned European Number One, has spoken of his huge disappointment at not being able to defend his South African Open Championship title this week.

The 37 year old was due to tee up at Glendower Golf Club, almost 12 months to the day since he won the prestigious title at the Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate. But the wrist injury he has been battling for the past four weeks eventually took its toll.

Following his record-breaking victory in the DP World Tour Championship, which gave him The 2013 Race to Dubai title to add to the FedEx Cup title he won in on the PGA Tour earlier in the season, the man from Gothenburg was set to begin the 2014 season in style in the city of Ekurhuleni.

But that was when the medical experts stepped in.

“I was ready to play in South Africa because I love the country so much and I loved the fact that I won the SA Open last year,” said the Swede. “But when it all came down it, I had to stop and listen to expert medical advice and they refused to give me the green light to tee up.

“It’s been no secret that I have been battling this particular wrist injury for the last four or five weeks and just to be able to play, I’ve been taking medication as well as undergoing treatment from the physios before and after each round.

“To be honest, if it had been any other time of the season, I probably wouldn’t have played but I knew I was in with a chance of making history by becoming the first man to win The Race to Dubai as well as the FedEx Cup.

“You don’t get many chances in this game to make history so I pushed on and played but now I have been told by the physios and all the medical experts that I really need to have complete rest for a couple of weeks because, if I didn’t do that, I’d risk doing permanent damage.

“Therefore, it was with a heavy heart that I had to pull out of the SA Open, and I hope everyone down there realises that I did so as a last resort.”

Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer and Director of International Policy for The European Tour, said: “I can fully appreciate how disappointed the organisers of the South African Open Championship are that Henrik will not be in the field, but at the same time I am fully behind his decision.

“Henrik has a huge season ahead of him, not least trying to become the first player to retain The Race to Dubai title, but also playing a significant part in the European Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles, and it’s important not just for him, but for all of European golf, that he is fit and ready for that challenge.

“We wish him well in his rest and recovery period and look forward to seeing him back in action very soon.”