Sweden's Jesper
Parnevik pulled out of the new World Golf Championship at
Valderrama because of an irregular heartbeat, his American
manager said on Wednesday.
Clark Jones said Parnevik took the decision as "a
precautionary measure."
"He's obviously worried about the situation and is taking a
rest. He has pulled out of this event and Sun City (in South
Africa) next month."
Jones said Parnevik's condition was not serious. "I don't
want to see any headlines that Jesper is suffering from a major
heart problem -- because that is just not true.
"His heart keeps racing a bit but Jesper is fully aware of
the ramifications," Jones added.
Swedish newspapers reported the reason for Parnevik's
withdrawal on Wednesday and quoted him as saying he might not
play again this year.
Jones said Parnevik had had the problem since before the
Ryder Cup in September and "it is nothing more serious than it
was during the Ryder Cup."
Parnevik complained of extreme tiredness after he lost his
singles to David Duval 5 and 4. He played all five matches at
Brookline, winning three and halving one in partnership with
Spanish teenager Sergio Garcia.
"We'll see what Jesper wants to do. He hasn't travelled
since then," Jones said.
The European Tour stripped Parnevik of his tour membership
on Tuesday after it was not given a reason for his withdrawal on
Tuesday.
It took action because this was to have been Parnevik's 11th
official European Tour event -- the minimum number of
tournaments required to maintain membership.
Tour spokesman Gordon Simpson said: "It's up to him to
supply the medical evidence and he has never done that. He never
communicated why he was not playing."
But the Tour has a medical exemption committee to whom the
evidence can still be forwarded.
The relevant medical documentation will be produced,
however. The European Tour had already issued its statement
before I got here," Jones said.
