Woosnam pulls out of Wales Open

Ian Woosnam’s struggles with post-viral fatigue syndrome have now led to him pulling out of this coming week’s Wales Open at Celtic Manor.

Last year’s Ryder Cup captain would obviously been one of the top attractions in his home country, but his priority is to regain his health.

The 49-year-old has not completed an event all year.

After missing halfway cuts in Thailand, Singapore and China Woosnam withdrew before the start of the Masters at Augusta early last month and then three weeks later on his return came off during the third round of the Spanish Open.

“I can’t walk properly and you can’t play if you can’t walk,” he said there.

“I just can’t get rid of it – it’s been a long time now. Just walking to the practice ground I’m knackered and after hitting 20 balls I am out of breath.

“I keep going into spasm. I feel like I’ve got to go flat out just to swing. I wake up one day and am fine, but then the next I just don’t have the movement.”

He decided not to go to the Italian Open as planned, then pulled out of the Irish Open after an opening 77 and this week withdrew from the BMW PGA Championship before the start.