Tendinitis sidelines Kim for season

Anthony Kim will miss the remainder of the US PGA Tour season after doctors diagnosed the American with tendinitis in his left arm and right elbow pain.

Anthony Kim will miss the remainder of the US PGA Tour season after doctors diagnosed the American with tendinitis in his left arm and right elbow pain.

Published May 21, 2012

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – Anthony Kim will miss the remainder of the US PGA Tour season after doctors diagnosed the American with tendinitis in his left arm and right elbow pain, tour officials said on Monday.

The 26-year-old will miss the next four to five months with the injuries, suffered last month when he struck a rock while playing from the rough in the first round of the Texas Open.

Surgery is not expected but the 2008 Ryder Cup star will undergo treatment and rehabilitation and hopes to play again in some of four events staged in October and November after the PGA playoffs and season-ending Tour Championship.

“I'm obviously disappointed because I've been fighting to get my game back on the right track and having an injury hold me back is frustrating,” Kim said in a statement.

“I've been through this process before, though, and know that you have to put in your work with treatments to get healthy. That will be my focus for the next four or five months so I'm in a position to return healthy towards the end of the year and be fully ready for 2013.”

Kim withdrew from his past three starts, including at Quail Hollow earlier this month, and has made only two cuts in seven other events, his best finish a share of 42nd at the Honda Classic in March.

Kim was examined by Thomas Graham, the same Cleveland doctor who performed reconstruction surgery on Kim's left thumb in 2010 after tearing a ligament. he missed three months of the season and missed out on the 2010 US Ryder Cup team.

That injury came only a month after Kim won the 2010 PGA Houston Open, his most recent of three career triumphs. Kim also won the 2008 National and 2008 Wachovia Championship.

Kim will likely file for a medical exemption to ensure his playing rights into 2013. This year marks the finish of his two-year exemption for the Houston triumph and he ranks only 215th on this year's money list.

Kim set a Masters record for birdies in a single round with 11

during his second round in 2009, when he fired a seven-under 65.

Since winning at Houston, Kim has 19 missed cuts, two disqualifications and four withdrawals in 42 events. – Sapa-AFP

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