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Howell out of Macau Open with injury

England's David Howell has reluctantly been forced to withdraw from the Macau Open on medical grounds.

Scans on a problem which forced him to pull out of the Wachovia Championship after one round and The Players after just two holes last week have identified the problem and specialists recommended further rest.

“It is with great reluctance and no little sorrow that I have had to withdraw from the Macau Open,” said the 31-year-old Englishman.

“I was so looking forward to my first visit to Macau, but I have been advised not to make the journey and risk further aggravating my condition”.

Although scans revealed that a recent back problem is well on the way to recovery, they also showed that Howell has inflammation in the SI joint of his right hip which needs further rest and treatment.

“There was no guarantee if I travelled to Macau that I would have been able to finish the tournament,” added Howell. “Hopefully I will be fit enough to play there at some stage in the future, but it would not have been fair to anybody to go there and not be able to fulfil my commitments as well as risk further damage”.

Howell is hopeful that further rest will ease the problem over the next few days and then be fit enough to start preparations for next week’s defence of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The Macau Open is the 14th leg of this season's Asian Tour and is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

China's Liang Wen-chong, second on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit, in-form Australian Scott Hend, third on the ranking, and title holder Kane Webber of Australia are amongst the leading stars from the region who will compete in the Macau Open.

May 14, 2007