The bad news first — looks like I am out of action for at least three weeks. The shoulder injury I sustained before the Masters refuses to heal.
I have no idea when exactly I picked up the injury, but it has been bothering me for some time. Fortunately, the scans showed no tear, but that is also the frustrating part. I was told that a couple of weeks rest and physio would get me up and running once again, but that did not happen.
The next step of the rehab is for three weeks. I have pulled out of this week's tournament in New Orleans and next week's Quail Hollow Championship and the Italian Open on the European Tour.
As things stand, there is no way I can give myself any chance of qualifying for the Players Championship.
More importantly, it puts a spanner in my plans as far as qualifying for the US Open at Pebble Beach is concerned. Unless I play out of my shoes in the Texas events, I think I will have to play the Sectionals. The Texas events — Valero Texas Open, Byron Nelson and Colonial, are very close to my heart, since Abilene Texas University happens to be my alumni.
Moving on, the European Tour is playing the Ballantine's Championship in Korea this week, while the PGA Tour is in Louisiana for the Zurich Classic.
I have some great memories of the Ballantine's. In 2008, which was the inaugural year of the tournament, I was involved in a thrilling playoff with Graeme McDowell after we both had left the rest of the field far behind. Our 24-under was seven shots better than the next player, and the playoff was almost a slugfest before GMac delivered the knockout punch on the third extra hole. After I hit my approach shot to five foot, GMac trumped me with a seven iron to one feet!
Here's hoping the spectators get to watch something equally thrilling this week.
— Jeev Milkha Singh is a three-time winner on the European Tour
