Woosnam's pain in Spain
One week after his joint best performance of the year Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam was forced to pull out of the Mallorca Classic first round at Pula today.
The 47-year-old Welshman injured his right shoulder teeing off on the fifth hole, battled on for 11 more, but then quit after hitting a shot out of bounds from deep rough on the 17th.
Woosnam, fifth in the Madrid Open on Sunday, was one over par at the time. Leader come the end of the day’s play was England’s Jonathan Lomas with a five under 65.
“I was doing all right, but I felt another twinge and was only playing with a one-iron the last six holes,” said Woosnam.
The former Masters champion blamed the problem on “hitting it too hard when you are too old” and added: “I guess I’ve had it before, but not as bad as that.
“It’s gone into my lung and I felt winded. All I was trying to do was get it on the fairway.
“This was my last tournament of the year and it’s a disappointing way to finish. I’ll go and have a rest now.”
The way Woosnam signalled to playing partners Sergio Garcia and Paul Lawrie that he was quitting revived memories of last year’s German Masters, when he could not be bothered to go back and play another ball after hitting into water on the final hole.
He was disqualified for that, but today’s episode went down as an injury retirement.
Essex’s Simon Khan, meanwhile, moved into contention with a three under 67, but was worried he might be fined for slow play.
Khan, penalised twice this season, found himself being timed again after his group fell behind the threesome in front and said: “As you can imagine it’s not a nice thing when you know 16 grand is looming.”
The 33-year-old, runner-up in the event to Garcia last year, avoided falling foul of the European tour regulations this time, with senior referee Andy McFee stating: “I timed the group for three holes, but Simon had no problem – he was not even close.”
In May the former Wales Open champion was fined £4,000 (€5,910) at the British Masters and then the following week he was docked double that by McFee for taking 16 seconds too long over a shot during the Irish Open.
“I think it’s a bit astronomical,” Khan commented when asked about the system of constantly doubling the slow play penalties.
“I’ve aired my views to everyone concerned about it. I don’t care who are you - unless you’re Tiger maybe – £16,000 (€23,643) is a bit penal, to say the least.
“It’s not going to happen. Since it happened I’ve not been slow and I’m not going to be over time at all.”
Lomas, whose one tour win in over 350 tour events came in the Czech Open nine years ago, goes into the second round one ahead of fellow Englishman Mark Foster and Ireland’s Gary Murphy.
Defending champion Garcia shot 69, the same as Jose Maria Olazabal, while 2003 winner Miguel Angel Jimenez was in the group with Khan on three under.
In the battle to stay on the European tour, Scot David Drysdale – 115th on the Order of Merit – opened the door to the chasing pack by slumping to a 78.
At the end of the tournament on Sunday the top 116 earn cards for next season. Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, in the hot-seat, returned a 71 and the player best placed to capitalise is 118th-ranked Sam Little. He is another on 67.
Ireland's Damien McGrane had it all to do on +2.
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