Stuart Appleby has withdrawn from the Australian Open after sustaining a back injury while playing a couple of warm up holes on Wednesday.
The 43-year-old was forced out of the pro-am event after only six holes just a day out from the Australian Open’s launch in Sydney.
The injury is not related to the back issue which limited the 2001 winner during 2011-12.
“He had a lot of nerve pain in the lower left side,” coach Steve Bann said.
“It’s a completely different injury to the early issue. He’s never had this pain before.”
Appleby was removed from the morning marquee group featuring Rory McIlroy and fellow Victorian Geoff Ogilvy earlier in the week after warning organisers of the ongoing back complaint.
The 17-time title winner will undergo a MRI scan next week to assess the extent of the injury, which is not believed to require surgery.
“Look, he can hit the ball okay but only at three-quarter pace. So what’s the point?” Bann said.
“He can’t be competitive playing like that. It’s disappointing for him, because he was looking forward to playing the tournaments at home.”
Appleby was troubled by the same injury at last week’s Australian Masters at Metropolitan. He has been replaced 56-man field by Queenslander Blake McGrory.
Photo: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images.
