Sergio to see specialist over sprained wrist

Spain’s Sergio Garcia will visit a specialist in an attempt to cure a hand injury which has curtailed the player’s preparation for the new golf season. The injury, which Garcia sustained during the third round of the Dubai World Championship, has so far failed to respond to rest and has prevented him from swinging a club since.

Garcia hopes to be able to return to action at the $3.3millionAbu Dhabi tournament, scheduled for late January 2010 and will be looking to build on his 2009 season, in which he won one tournament and earned $2.4million in prize money. Garcia will also hope to mount a challenge to be included in Colin Montgomerie’s Ryder Cup team to take on the United States at The Celtic Manor resort, Wales.

When asked about the injury, Garcia told the Spanish media:

“The hand is not well … I haven’t played for three weeks and I still feel pain. It’s not healing as fast as we thought it would. What’s clear is that even with the rest it’s not better and we’re a little bit worried.”

Garcia finished seventh in the Dubai World Championship, 11 shots behind runaway winner Lee Westwood.

Seve to play at St. Andrews in 2010?

As Stewart Cink hoisted aloft the Claret Jug at Turnberry after winning the British Open, golfing legend Seve Ballesteros announced he would return to competitive golf in the 2010 Open at St. Andrews, Fife. Ballesteros had previously retired from competing in 2007, prior to the The Open at Carnoustie as a result of constant back trouble.

Ballesteros, who has undergone a long, slow recovery process since four surgeries on a brain tumour declared he would love to return to the game at St. Andrews – the scene of his 1984 Open triumph.

Despite his health problems, Seve would be eligible to play in the 2010 British Open due to him being a past winner of the tournament, and his appearance at St. Andrews would undoubtedly help swell both the galleries and the Open coffers by helping to boost St. Andrews ticket sales and purchases by enthusiastic spectators wishing to catch a glimpse of the charismatic golf icon.

In addition, the 2010 renewal of the British Open will also likely be the Open swansong of Tom Watson, who at 59 narrowly failed to become the tournament’s oldest winner when he lost to Cink in a 4-hole playoff. Unless Watson qualifies for future Opens by other means, 2010 will be his last appearance in the major.

Both factors are sure to ensure a bumper crowd at St. Andrews next July and Open spectator packages, including tickets and accommodation for the major tournament are sure to be popular as spectators and well wishers gather to watch two of the game’s great players make emotional appearances at what could well be the final Open appearance for both players.