Stenson in doubt for Shanghai Masters

Swede Henrik Stenson is in serious doubt for his return to golf at this week's BMW Masters in Shanghai. FedEx Cup champion Stenson arrived in the Chinese business capital sporting blue 'spider' tape on a swollen right forearm, revealing he sustained the injury while practicing last week at the Lake Nona course in Orlando, Florida. The current World No. 4, who is commencing a seven-event run to end his season, was to undergo an MRI scan on his forearm at a Shanghai hospital later Tuesday. "I've had four weeks off since the Tour Championship but unfortunately I've got a bit of a problem with my right wrist and forearm," he said. "I am hoping to get it sorted over the next couple of days but at the moment I'm not in great shape and I'm not certain of playing this week here in Shanghai. "I really don't know how it happened as I was practicing last week back in Florida but on Wednesday and Thursday I just felt it ache a little bit and it's just got progressively sore and a little swollen. "Then on the flight over here it felt just worse and worse and I couldn't hit any golf balls yesterday and instead I had treatment on it, and was advised to have an MRI on it to make sure there is nothing major wrong." After winning both the season-ending Tour Championship and FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour, Stenson has returned to the European Tour season-ending four event Final Series looking to finish the year also as European Tour No. 1 Stenson currently leads the number two Race to Dubai placed Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland by 425,573 euros in this week's event carrying a first prize cheque of 852,660 euros. "I'm no expert on wrist injuries but this spider-like tape on my arm is supposed to draw some fluids out and help lift the skin and make it easier for treatment," he added. "I'm on pain-killers, anti-inflammatories and I've been having regular icing and while it's quite painful I'm just hoping there is nothing serious. "It's very worrying especially as this will be the first week of a seven tournament stretch for me, so it's not the best scenario to be having a wrist problem. "But it is what it is and I will be guided by what the doctors inform me and, as I said, it won't be nothing too serious. "I've had a problem before in my left wrist but this is the first time I've developed an injury in my right wrist. "So if it's not feeling any better I will have to withdraw and hope it's better for next week's HSBC Champions here also in Shanghai." And fellow Swede Peter Hanson, who is this week's defending champion, is also hoping he will not suffer a recurrence of a long nagging back injury that forced him out of the recent Seve Trophy in France. Source: AFP