Woosnam quits Madrid Open
Woosnam has struggled with a long-term back injury Last year’s winning Ryder Cup captain, who quit the Masters earlier this month without hitting a shot, says he will now see a specialist for further tests.”I can’t walk properly and you can’t play if you can’t walk,” said the 49-year-old former world number one.The Welshman’s problem may be linked to a rheumatic disease he has which mainly affects the spine.Woosnam added: “Just walking to the practice ground I’m knackered and after hitting 20 balls I am
out of breath.”It’s like cramp and I keep going into spasm. I feel like I’ve got to go flat out just to swing and I’m not going to play again until I feel better.”He is due to link up again with Tom Lehman, captain of the 2006 American Ryder Cup team, at next week’s Italian Open in Milan, but that seems unlikely now.Woosnam has yet to earn a penny this year after also missing the halfway cut in Thailand, Singapore and China.Woosnam was diagnosed in 1987 with ankylosing spondylitis, a rheumatic disease of the spine that can also affect joints, tendons and ligaments and other areas such as the eyes and heart.He has taken anti-inflammatories ever since, but last year started a new treatment of weekly injections each costing £200.The 1991 Masters champion becomes eligible for the senior tour on his 50th birthday next March.He guided Europe to a record-equalling Ryder Cup win over the USA in Ireland last September.