Injured Casey out of Dubai

Casey: rib injury

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Paul Casey will not play in next week's Dubai World Championship because of his ongoing rib injury.

As a result of his withdrawal the Englishman has lost any chance of ending the season as Europe's number one.

Casey made much of the early the running in the inaugural; 'Race to Dubai' after wins at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the BMW PGA Championship earlier in the season.

However, the world number five tore a rib muscle whilst practising for the Open Championship in July and subsequently spent three months on the sidelines.

He returned at the Volvo World Match Play Championship a fortnight ago, but then withdrew early in the final round of last week's HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai.

Currently fifth on the Race to Dubai money list, Casey flew from China to the United States for an MRI scan in the hope that he would be given the all-clear to compete in the Middle East.

However, he has now been advised not to risk further injury by playing and is not sure when he will be fit to return.

"Paul will not play sadly (in Dubai)," manager Guy Kinnings confirmed.

Risk

"His intercostal muscle is not torn again, but it is inflamed and he cannot risk it in Dubai."

Next week's event is for the leading 60 money-winners on the circuit, but the field will now be only 58 as American Anthony Kim, runner-up to England's Ross Fisher at the Match Play in Spain, has decided not to play.

However, Casey remains in line for an Order of Merit bonus that could be in excess of £316,000 despite being unable to play in Dubai.

A note in the European Tour members' handbook states: "To be eligible for bonus pool prize money a player must participate in the Dubai World Championship unless he has a mitigating circumstance."

It goes on to state that a player withdrawing "for reasons of injury, serious disability or personal emergency which is deemed acceptable by the Chief Executive (in his absolute determination) will remain eligible to receive any applicable bonus pool payment."

European Tour supremo George O'Grady has already acknowledged that Casey's case quite clearly meets this requirement.