Two of Europe’s top golfers are in doubt for next week’s season-ending Dubai World Championship.
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and Briton Justin Rose could be missing from limited 60 player field teeing up in the $US 7.5m event at the Jumeirah Golf Estate course.
A reoccurrence of a neck injury forced the 41-year old Bjorn out of representing Denmark in last week’s Mission Hills World Cup while he also withdrew from this week’s Nedbank Challenge in South Africa.
Bjorn has been one of the best performed players in Europe this year winning the Qatar Masters just a fortnight prior to his 40th birthday.
He then captured the back-to-back Johnnie Walker Championship in Scotland and the following week’s European Masters in Switzerland.
Bjorn is currently lying eighth on the Race to Dubai and is he does withdraw it will spoil his hope of bettering a best ever season finish in Europe of fifth in 2000.
And his name does not appear among those competing in Tuesday’s Rolex Pro-Am on the Greg Norman designed course.
Rose is on standby for the birth of his second child and indicated that while the baby is due just prior to Christmas, his wife Kate has been advised the baby could be born earlier.
The European Tour has prepared a statement with Rose’s assistance just in case the current World No. 16 should have to withdraw from the Dubai event and return to his Orlando residence.
And Rose also is due to head to Melbourne a week later to contest the Australian Masters and an event he won in 2007.
“I’m been in constant contact with Kate and trying to keep a handle on what is happening at home with the baby,” said Rose to REUTERS
“That’s very much on my mind as Kate has been visiting the doctor for check-ups, and that’s moving forward quicker than I thought.
“She is due right before Christmas but then I could be withdrawing next week but I won’t know until I hear from Kate.
“So all I can do is to try and keep a close eye on what is happening.
“As of right now the plan is to go to Dubai and compete but it’s pretty much getting to the stage now when I am playing with mobile phone on.”
