| Loch
Lomond, 8th July 1998 -
Nick Faldo pulled out of the Standard Life tournament at Loch Lomond this morning
just before teeing off after suffering an elbow injury on the driving range.
Now 40-year-old Faldo faces
a race against time to be fully fit for next week's Open Championship at Royal
Birkdale. Three-time
Open champion Faldo went for treatment the moment he felt pain, then returned
to hit some more shots, but quickly realised that he could do more damage by attempting
to play. He returned
immediately for further treatment and European tour physiotherapist Jon Shrewsbury
said: "He's injured the tendon on the inside of his right elbow and traumatised
a muscle. "We
will give him treatment for three or four times a day now. It involves ice, rest,
electrotherapy and putting on a fibreclass cast." It
has been a miserable season for Faldo so far. He is outside the top 100 on America's
money list, has fallen to an all-time low of 50th on the world rankings and missed
the halfway cut in both the Masters and US Open. Without
a win now for 16 months, he spoke optimistically on Monday of being just a fraction
away from rediscovering form - but now this. Faldo
said: "I first started to feel some twinges about a month ago, but it's been
fine with a little ice on it at nights. "I
hit 10 wedges this morning without any problems, then midway through my fourth
nine-iron something went 'boom' in the elbow. "I
just felt this stabbing pain and knew straight away that I was in trouble. I've
lost the power in the arm and can't get my backswing even to halfway. "The
arm has been immobilised and I'm told it should stay that way for a couple of
days. I'll review the situation on Friday and Saturday. "It's
very frustrating. I've never pulled out of a tournament in these circumstances
in my entire career. Once in Australia I had to withdraw after starting a tournament,
but never within a few minutes of my tee time. "I've
never missed an Open either and hope it doesn't come to that. Obviously, I'm a
bit worried about Birkdale, but at least I'm in the right place to get the best
treatment. "I'm
still hopeful that I might be able to start swinging a club again at the weekend." Shrewsbury
added: "He has eight days before the Open. The human body is remarkably resilient
and eight days can make a big difference." | 
