Alastair Forsyth out of Malaysian

Open as back pain takes toll

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Alastair Forsyth, who recorded the first of his two European Tour wins in the event eight years ago, has been forced to pull out of this week's Maybank Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur due to a back injury.
The 34-year-old, pictured right, got as far as Dubai earlier in the week when the pain in his back became so bad that he decided there was no point in him making the next leg of his journey. Instead, Forsyth jumped on a plane back to Britain and is still in a bit of discomfort despite a couple of visits to a physiotherapist over the last few days.
"I hurt my back when I was at the gym on Sunday morning," said Forsyth, who had been looking forward to playing in an event that helped him get a foothold on the European Tour. "I felt something strange happen and the pain got progressively worse through the day on Sunday. "I was heading for Malaysia but only got as far as Dubai as it was really uncomfortable and painful, too. There was no point in me going any further so I turned back."
While Forsyth pays regular visits to the European Tour physiotherapy unit for treatment to his back, he says this injury is more serious than any trouble he's encountered in the past.
"I've always had back issues and the physios on the Tour keep it ticking over for me," he added. "If they'd been at this week's event I would probably have tried to make it to Malaysia, but its the Asian Tour guys and I don't know them.

"I've been to see the physio a couple of times since I got home and it is still pretty painful. There is no way I could address a ball at the moment far less hit it. In fact, I wouldn't even be able to put a tee peg in the ground. It is still early in the season and there's no event next week, so I think I have made the right decision by coming home and trying to get it sorted."
Forsyth's absence has reduced the Scottish contingent in Kuala Lumpur to seven for an event where the humidity is as much a challenge as the course itself.
"Even your trousers get soaked," noted Stephen Gallacher, who is hoping to take up where he left off in the Middle East a few weeks ago after notching top-50 finishes in both Qatar and Dubai.
David Drysdale, who was back in Dubai last week to escape the bad weather in Scotland and get in some decent practice, is also in the field, as are Steven O'Hara, Andrew Coltart and Peter Whiteford.
They're joined by Dubai-based Ross Bain and Asian Tour regular Simon Yates, both of whom have received sponsor's invites for the event. Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee, the winner in 2004 and 2005, heads the field, the world No 44 having followed a third place in Dubai by losing to Ian Poulter, the eventual winner, in the quarter- finals of the WGC Accenture Match Play.
Jaidee says the newly-refurbished Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club is the best course in Malaysia.
"I played on this course in 2006 and came back here to see that everything about it has changed," he said. "They moved the tee box back on many holes but the condition is perfect. It is the best course in Malaysia.

"They put more bunkers in and they are in play on almost every hole. This year it will be very challenging. This is the best year so far because of good organisation, good facilities and a fantastic golf course."
American Anthony Kang defends his title against a field that also includes K J Choi, Darren Clarke and Soren Hansen, the latter having finished inside the top 20 in all five events this season to extend his run of consecutive cuts made to 23.
"I only decided to come at the last minute and I am really pleased that I have done that because I see a very good course that is in great condition," said the world No 50, who has missed the cut just five times in over 50 events in the last two seasons.