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Goosen to miss WGC championship

05/10/2005

Retief Goosen has withdrawn from this week's WGC-American Express Championship in San Francisco with a groin injury.

The world number five has been suffering from the injury for some time and hoped that resting last week would cure the problem.

The South African hopes to be back in action in the Funai Classic at the Walt Disney resort in Florida, which begins on October 17th.

The injury is a major blow to Goosen, who is competing with New Zealand's Michael Campbell and Scotland's Colin Montgomerie for the European Tour Order of Merit.

Goosen currently sits third in the Order of Merit, just $93,000 behind US Open champion Campbell.

He joins fellow South African Ernie Els on the absentee list, as the world number three is still recovering from knee surgery he had in August.

Last year's runner-up, Thomas Bjorn, is also struggling to be fit for the event after spending three days in hospital with a viral infection which struck him down on the final day of the Seve Trophy.

"It was a borderline decision to come here because it was a long trip but I have got two weeks off after this so I will have a nice week and let the golf be whatever it is," Bjorn said.

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