US Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples was given with another injury scare when Hunter Mahan pulled out of the Australian Open on Friday.
Mahan withdrew from the Sydney event with a shoulder injury that clearly hampered his play him during an erratic opening 73.
The World No 19 insisted, however, that his withdrawal was merely a precaution, and that he fully expected to be fit to take on Greg Norman's rest-of-the World (excluding Europe) Internationals in Melbourne next week.
"It wasn't great for nine holes, then they came out and popped it back and it was a little better," Mahan said. "It's just the rotation. It's fired up to the point that I can't get through the ball."
Couples's second injury worry, Steve Stricker, however, remained in doubt for next week's Cup matches as he continued undergoing treatment for a neck injury that has kept him out of action since the Tour Championship in September.
Couples has said that should any of his team be unable to feature in Sydney, PGA champion Keegan Bradley will be his first-choice replacement.
Couples has revealed that should any of his team be unable to feature in Sydney, PGA champion Keegan Bradley is his first-choice replacement.
golf365.com