Colin Montgomerie has pulled out of this week’s BMW International Open in Munich to rest his injured back, it was reported today.
The 39-year-old Scot decided to give the event a miss after consulting a specialist over the weekend about the back problems which have plagued him for most of the season.
Montgomerie's manager Guy Kinnings said at the weekend that the seven-time European number one would decide his schedule leading up to the Ryder Cup after seeing the specialist.
"He saw doctors in America the week before the USPGA and they confirmed he does not require surgery and it is not a serious injury, although it does cause him pain."
Montgomerie had always planned to miss the European Masters in Switzerland the week after the BMW International Open, and then play in the German Masters and American Express Championships at Mount Juliet in Kilkenny in the weeks immediately preceding the Ryder Cup at the Belfry.
European captain Sam Torrance has admitted he has already taken into consideration Montgomerie's injury due to the gruelling schedule of matches against the Americans.
Without the injury, Montgomerie, a player Torrance has described as his 'rock', would have been certain to play in all five series of matches, a potential total of 90 holes in three days.
But Torrance acknowledged: "It might be a bit much for him to play in every series but I had already taken that into consideration. I might not push him."
Montgomerie has been told to lose weight and exercise to try and improve the situation and spoke earlier this month of hopefully avoiding an operation at the end of the year.
"I'm not that healthy right now, every week is a bonus if I do play.
Meanwhile, former Open champion Greg Norman has also withdrawn from the BMW International Open and, like Montgomerie, the reason is back trouble.
PA