Dutchman Joost Luiten is on standby with Sweden’s Peter Hanson in doubt for this week’s 142nd Open Championship.
Hanson has a disc problem in his lower back and has not played since having to withdraw with just a handful of holes remaining in the recent Greenbrier Classic on the PGA Tour.
“I still struggling with my back and I’m sure about playing this week,” said the double European Ryder Cup star.
Reigning KLM Open champion, Peter Hanson in doubt for The Open. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
“I thought the disc problem in my back was getting better but then it starts to feel a lot worse.
“It was my plan to play the Greenbrier Classic and then either the Scottish Open and/or the John Deere Classic and then this week.
“But I couldn’t finish Greenbrier and then with seven holes to go we had a rain delay and then after the delay I couldn’t get up and move so I had to withdraw.
“So at this stage I would say I am a 50-50 chance of teeing up on Thursday.”
Hanson is due to contest his eighth Open Championship debut in 2005 at St. Andrews. His best finish in a major was his superb third place result in last year’s US Masters where he went so close to becoming the first-ever Swede to win a major.
“You don’t want to miss the Majors and that’s for sure,” he declared.
“I actually came back from Greenbrier Tuesday and then I travelled straight over to Scotland as my physio was up at Castle Stuart working at the Scottish Open.
“So I’ve been here since Friday and he’s been doing a lot of work on my back while I’ve been undertaking exercises and having treatment and stuff just to try and get it ready.”
And the back injury has meant that the 35-year old Orlando-based golfer has not hit one shot in practice since being in Scotland.
“No, not one but I will try and hit about 20 wedge shots this afternoon and see how it is,” he said.
“But the big test will be tomorrow (Tues) because if I can play nine holes pain free then that will be the key to my playing or not.
“I haven’t seen the course yet but I played the British Amateur championship here in 1998 so I’m no stranger to the golf course.
“But while I don’t want to miss the majors I am also missing out on playing in the regular tour events.”
