Henrik Stenson is the latest player to reveal an illness that is likely to affect his chances of challenging for this week's USPGA.
Below-par Swede hit by mystery illness
Henrik Stenson is the latest player to reveal an illness that is likely to affect his chances of challenging for this week's US PGA Championship.
With Phil Mickelson admitting an arthritis problem has surfaced over recent weeks, now the Swede has confirmed a mysterious viral infection has plagued him since the Open last month.
It explains why he finished last at the WGC-Bridgestone on Sunday - sparing Tiger Woods that honour.
"It started the Tuesday after The Open," he admitted. "I was in bed with a fever for over a week and felt awful for another week before heading over to Akron.
"I only managed nine holes of practice there - the first time I had picked up a club in two weeks - and it's just been dragging on since then.
"I felt a little bit better Saturday and Sunday, but spent three hours in the emergency room this morning being looked over.
Steroids
"They tell me I've got some virus, some chest infection and I'm on steroids and anti-biotics. One of the possibilities was pneumonia, but at least it did not show up for that.
"The heat here is not recommended, but I had to practice. Playing this course (Whistling Straits) blind you'd have the same chance as finding a needle in a haystack."
Stenson is in danger of missing out on all the end-of season action following a dismal year by his standards.
Currently ranked 26th in the world, he is outside the top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings and is a lowly 26th in the Ryder Cup table, and another poor week is likely to leave him needing a wildcard pick from captain Colin Montgomerie.
"As for the Ryder Cup I had to make something happen at the 11th hour and I did at St Andrews," said the Swede, referring to his third place finish in the Open. "Then the plan was to have a week off with my family and a good week's practice before this run.
"Obviously I needed two solid weeks to have anything to do with the match, but now I'm going to do whatever I can this week in the circumstances."
