While David Drysdale gets used to walking with crutches he’s quietly hopeful of contesting next week’s lucrative Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The popular Scot sustained a three centimetre tear in the calf muscle of his right leg when walking up the slope of a bunker at the first hole to start his third round in last week’s 72nd Italian Open at Monza.

The 40-year old said at the time the pain was so intense he felt he had been shot in the leg.

Scotland’s David Drysdale on crutches after tearing his calf muscle. (Photo – Vicky Drysdale)

Drysdale underwent an MRI on his leg in Edinburgh on Monday and yesterday (TUES) visited leading Scottish physiotherapist, Stuart Barton who spent a dozen years as physio for the Scotland rugby lead.

Under Barton’s guidance, Drysdale underwent the first of a series of intensive physio sessions along with undergoing acupuncture on the injury.

“Along with the tear there was about 15 centimetres of swelling in my leg but fortunately the swelling has gone done now,” said Drysdale.

“Unfortunately, the MRI I had on Monday confirmed what Stuart (Barton) first thought when I contacted him in getting back home to Scotland.

“Stuart is one of the best physios around so I am in good hands and hopefully I might be fit enough to play the Dunhill Dunhill Links next week.

“The hardest thing is getting used to walking with crutches but then I’ve been informed to give my leg plenty of rest, so I won’t be walking that much.”

Of course, the injury could not have come at a worst time for Drysdale who was on a good run of form having made the cut in eight events straight including last week’s Italian Open.

However in being forced out of the event in Monza Drysdale has seen his Race to Dubai ranking drop four places to 118th and eight places outside of retaining full membership for 2016.

And since a period in his career from 1997 to 2008 when Drysdale was a regular at the Tour’s Q-School, he’s been able to show his true form over the past six years, capped by 48th on the money list in 2009, in holding onto his card each year.