Visiting American Stewart Cink, competing in Italy for a first time in his career and posting an Italian Open third day 70 for a nine under total, had sympathy for Tiger Woods who has undergone more back surgery and will not play again to the New Year.
Cink is a five-time USA Ryder Cup representative and four of those Ryder Cup he’s had Woods as a team-mate.
Tiger Woods and Zach Johnson having a laugh at Stewart Cink’s expense at the opening ceremony to the 2010 Ryder Cup
“I can only wish Tiger the best, and it’s just too bad as he’s had so many back problems,” said Cink.
“But then golf is not physically demanding but it is physically wearing. It wears on your body all the time and it seems like certain bodies don’t hold up and that’s not a deficiency in the swing as some bodies just have trouble with golf.
“So it’s again disappointing for Tiger as we all know how competitive he is and how much he likes to play but then no-one wants to be playing injured.”
Cink is returning to the States for a week and then also making his debut in next week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Three players, including former World No. 1 Martin Kaymer (65), and each at 17-under par head into the final round of the Italian Open.
Kaymer, and also Cink, is competing in Italy after failing to qualify for the PGA Tour FedEx Cup Play-Off Series and capped his round starting with four birdies.
Sharing the lead with the double Major winner is Frenchman Romain Wattel (66) and 21-year old Swede Jens Fahrbring (68), competing in just his fifth main Tour event but with 13 players within four shots of the lead.
