The immediate playing future of American golfer Kevin Streelman is in doubt after a serious eye injury forced him out early on day two of the Australian Open in Sydney.

The 35-year old Illinois born Streelman withdrew after just four holes of the Royal Sydney course complaining ‘something is not right with my eye’.

Kevin Streelman struggles with eye injury that forces him out of Australian Open. (Photo – Anthony Powter).

This year’s rookie winner of the PGA Tour’s Tampa Bay Championship had been observed in discussion over his eye with Australasian Tour officials a day earlier and immediately following his first round of 70.

But after the soon-to-be new father dropped three shots within two holes he advised his Australian-born playing partners Adam Scott and Jason Day he could not continue due to concern for his left eye.

“I woke up this morning and something wasn’t right in my eye,” he said.

“The doctor advised me it was pretty badly infected and while I’ve been trying using eye drops I just started getting dizzy so I just couldn’t go on.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever had to walk off in a tournament due to an injury and I’m really sad to do so but I’m going to head to hospital and make sure everything is okay.”

In fact, Streelman was conveyed to nearby St. Vincent’s Hospital in suburban Paddington where he was informed he has a scratch on the cornea of his eye and then later discharged.

It is uncertain if Streelman will be advised he can either travel home or, as he had planned, head to South Africa to compete in next week’s Nedbank Challenge in South Africa.

Apart from his first Tour victory earlier this year Streelman finished runner-up in the Players Championship and also in Florida.