Spain’s Sergio Garcia revealed a nagging shoulder injury almost forced him withdrawing mid-way through his second round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.The current World No. 14 had to undergo on-course physio on a number of occasions before signing for a five under par 67 to move to nine under par in the event to end the day just three shots behind South African Richard Sterne (70).
Garcia was observed grabbing the back of his left shoulder on a number of occasions and in a remarkable round that included an eagle and six birdies.
“I started my round on the 10th but my shoulder was hurting that much I said to my caddy on the 14th green that if doesn’t get any better after the 18th I will probably walk off,” said Garcia.
Sergio Garcia getting treatment on his injured left shoulder during day two of Omega Dubai Desert Classic. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
“What I don’t want is for the pain to keep building up and for me not to recover.
“But unfortunately (smiling) we started making birdies and eagles and what do we do now?
“So I got the physio to come out onto the course and work on it a little bit and he put some Tiger Balm on the area, and it did feel a little bit better.
“But it did start to get a little stiff again on the back nine so I had more treatment so it’s getting there.
“It’s the first time I’ve had any problem with my shoulder and I feel I may have pulled a little tendon or muscle when I was in the gym on Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s weird because it didn’t feel bad when I was having dinner later that night but it just tightened-up hitting balls on the range yesterday (THU) morning and then on the course it got tighter and tighter as the round went on.
“However I will continue play as long as the arm and shoulder allow me to continue and then probably take a little break and get ready for the PGA Tour season.”
Garcia, who birdied the 16th and 17th holes and then eagled the 18th (his 7th, 8th and 9th of his round), explained he was struggling with releasing the club so that most of his shots were ‘little fades’.
And when he is putting Garcia said he found it difficult also to execute a ‘smooth’ stroke.
It’s the first occasion Garcia revealed he’s had a problem with his shoulder and with the pain also extending down into his left arm.
He is taking pain-killers along with anti-inflamatories and will continue to undergo treatment.
There was a bizarre incident for the Ryder Cup star at the 12th hole, and the third hole of his round, when Garcia’s ball landed in a palm tree.
There was no way Garcia could identify the ball with the naked eye so he asked an official photographer walking with the group to take a photo of his ball using a long lens.
Garcia was able to identify his ball from the photograph and reassure playing partners Rafa Cabrera-Bello and England’s Danny Willett it was his ball.
Garcia took a penalty drop on route to one of only two bogeys.
