Ferrie 'back to square one'

As if having his clubs lost by British Airways was not enough, England’s Kenneth Ferrie has suffered a recurrence of back trouble and is not yet a certain starter at the United States PGA championship in Chicago.

Ferrie, joint leader with Phil Mickelson at the US Open with a round to go before slipping to sixth, pulled out of the Open during his second round last month and has been having treatment ever since.

But the 27-year-old from Ashington said today: “I woke up stiff and sore yesterday and it was the same this morning. There’s still a chance I might not be playing.”

The situation is not helped by the fact that he is due to tee off at 7.10am in the opening round at Medinah. A later start time would have enabled him to loosen up more.

“After the Open I saw a chiropractor and physiotherapist and had a massage every couple of days. I didn’t hit any balls until the end of last week and have done everything I can, but it doesn’t feel very good.

“I’m back to square one. I’ve been told the best treatment is rest, but as a golfer it’s not really the best time of year for that.

“Huge as this week is I’ve got to be sensible about it, though, and I’ll just see how I feel later today.”

Ferrie’s trip got off to the worst possible start when the flight he was originally booked on from Newcastle last Saturday was cancelled because of the terrorism threat.

The following day he was told at Heathrow that his clubs could not be found - and they are still missing.

“They’ve told me they don’t know where they are. As much as I feel like bitching and moaning about it I’ve heard that 10,000 bags have gone missing and I’m just one of them.

“A replacement set arrived yesterday from California, but although they are basically the same they are not mine. My driver had a shaft that’s not been made for three years and my wedges were individually done.”

Ferrie is 16th in the Ryder Cup race with just two more weeks left before the team is decided.

But what makes this week extra important to him is that he has not qualified for next’s Bridgestone world championship in Ohio and come the BMW International in Munich he may have too much ground to make up.

“It’s so hard to make the team without having a really big week – and I haven’t had that,” added the man who was hoping for a return to the K Club 14 months after his European Open victory there.