Q-School Withdrawal
I had to withdraw from Stage 2 of Q-School at Lake Jovita yesterday due to injury. Around November 5th I strained something in my right ribcage through normal practice and play. I recognized there was an injury immediately and took 4 days off without swinging to make sure it didn’t get worse. It was difficult to take this much time off going into such an important event, but I felt like it was more important to get it healed so it didn’t effect my play. I had it worked on twice by a local therapist, and it felt like it was very manageable going into the first round.
On my second hole of the first round I aggravated it very badly trying to hit a utility club into a par-5. Over the first nine I hit several shots that produced more pain than I have ever experienced on a golf course. Plenty of advil and “Icy Hot” got me through most of the second nine until it started to hurt over the last few holes.
That night I got some therapy from a local physical therapist and took plenty of meds. The next morning I still felt a lot of pain but had to give it a shot. Since getting through Stage 2 would have given me some kind of status for next year, I was comfortable risking more damage to the injury even if it meant I would have to take last place in Stage 3.
In the second round the injury bothered me from the first swing. On the 8th hole I hit a 5-iron and had trouble breathing and walking up to the green. When the pain failed to subside on the 9th hole I decided to withdraw from the tournament.
I am seeing a local doctor here in Aiken this morning to get a diagnosis and see how to proceed.
This is about as disappointing of a finish to the season as I can imagine. I felt that every aspect of my game was ready for this tournament, Stage 3 and the Nationwide or PGA Tour next year. To not even have the chance at Stage 2 because of an ill-timed injury is very difficult.
Regardless, I take a lot of satisfaction away from this year. I had a successful season with continued improvement across my entire game. I got into several Nationwide Tour events and proved that I am capable of competing at the next levels.