Injury-hit Thomas Bjorn said on Tuesday that it was doubtful he would tee off in this week's Dubai World Championship.
Thomas Bjorn: Has a neck injury
The Dane - a three-time winner on the European Tour this year and eighth in the money standings - pulled out of his country's team for the World Cup in China a fortnight ago with a neck injury and also withdrew from last week's Nedbank Challenge in South Africa.
He also missed Tuesday's pro-am in Dubai, opting instead to restrict his practice to just chipping and putting in the hope he would be fit by Thursday.
Initially, he sounded hopeful he might make it.
"It's getting better, but I want to rest it as much as I can and after this week I'll start rehab - the stronger I am the less chance there will be of it recurring," said the 40-year-old.
But later Bjorn admitted: "The neck is not good and I'm not that hopeful."
The field is already down from 60 to 58 with Justin Rose returning to Orlando, where his wife Kate is expecting their second child, and Swede Fredrik Jacobson electing not to play.
Jacobson opted for the Shark Shoot-out in Florida instead and was due to partner host Greg Norman, but then withdrew from that event as well on Friday with a thumb injury.
golf365.com