Injured Henrik Stenson still hopeful of Dubai return

Henrik Stenson says that he is still hopeful of competing in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, despite the rib injury he suffered during a photoshoot.

The world No 9 golfer took part in a promotional event at the recent WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in China that involved him being suspended in the air while posing as a superhero, which injured his rib.

Stenson managed to finish joint-second in China, but then struggled at the Turkish Airlines Open. He was forced to withdraw from the Nedbank Golf Challenge, starting on Thursday, and was originally expected to miss the tournament in Dubai too.

However, Stenson suggested he might be able to compete in Dubai. In a post on Instagram, Stenson wrote: "I'm disappointed to have to pre-emptively withdraw from the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

"I am back home in Orlando waiting to do a scan on my ribs and get the necessary rest. I am still hoping for a quick recovery and have not ruled out playing in Dubai next week at this point.

"The plan as of now will be to participate in the DP World Championship if my body is back to 100%."

Following his disappointing joint-35th place finish in Turkey, Stenson said: "I'm no superman even though certain people thought I was Superman. If you saw the promotion in Shanghai, you know what I mean."

However, he sought to clarify his comments, which some saw as a criticism of the promotional event.

The Swede wrote: "My comment about not being Superman was a sarcastic way of saying that I am susceptible to injury like any other athlete and sometimes these things happen when you least expect them.

"I was never forced to do anything. HSBC is a great sponsor to golf worldwide and I am not happy to see them being made responsible for my withdrawal."

The DP World Tour Championship brings the 2017 European Tour to a close, and features a purse of $8m (£6.09m).