Retief Goosen continues to battle through back pain despite carding a three under par 67 on the opening day of the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
The South African had six birdies, one bogey and a third hole double bogey in a continuing bright start to the $US 8.5m championship.
Goosen is teeing-up in the event for a 12th occasion since the second staging of the event in 2000. The only year he’s missed was in 2004.
The double U.S. Open winner has shown a first day liking to the tournament with his 67 being the sixth occasion he’s broken 70.
“The golf course is pretty much as good as I have ever seen it here,” he said.
Retief Goosen continues to battle back pain. (Photo - Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“The greens are running like Augusta speeds. The fairways are quick, as well. It’s pretty much as good as I’ve seen it here.
“The rough it up, too. So it’s quite hard to hit some of these fairways. Today was good, one double bogey and a bogey but six birdies.”
However while the 43-year old looks end a three-year PGA Tour winless drought much of the discussion then after his round related to his current health, and in particular, his back.
“I’m about five out of 10 healthwise,” he said.
“My physio Cornel is doing a great job keeping me on the course at the moment. I’m in discussions with a number of doctors to see what sort of options there are with my back, but at the moment we’ve just got to keep grinding away and play well.
“I am struggling to keep the muscles from firing down in my lower back. It’s been a struggle the last year definitely.
“The issue with my back is an L3-L4 degenerating disc, and some of the bone is growing a little bit funny.
“So at the moment it is a struggle to sleep properly and to get up in the mornings, to warm up. I’m also losing a lot of distance out there on the golf course. I can’t quite go at it as hard as I would like to.”
Goosen, who has won 33 individual titles in his pro career, revealed also he has been having PRP injections – Platelet rich plasma injections – to help avoid the need for surgery on his ailing back.
“I’ve seen so many guys, non-surgical guys and I had PRP injections earlier this year, and what Vijay (Singh) and (Fred) Couples had,” he said.
“I’ve also had cortisone shots, everything you can probably think of at the moment. That is sort of keeping me on the golf course at the moment.”
Of course, it’s also meant Goosen has had to cut down his practice and he now only hits some 30 balls before a round.
“Then I’m struggling to stand up straight and hit it properly,” he added.
“So then I’m just hurting myself, so 30 balls is about as much as I can hit.”
