New Zealand's 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell feared his year may be over after a shoulder injury forced him out of the Hong Kong Open on Friday.
Campbell pulled out of the 2.5 million US dollar tournament shortly before the second round and is set for an MRI scan in Sydney to find out the extent of the damage.
He said his participation in next week's Australian Masters and the Australian Open in December may be in doubt, meaning he will not play until the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in January.
"What the specialist says in Sydney on Monday will determine whether I play in the Australian Masters," he said. "I'm also entered in the Australian Open but we'll just have to wait and see.
"In some ways it's come at a bad time but it's also come at a good time because if this had happened around July or August I would have missed a lot of tournaments.
"But if I have to withdraw from the two Australian events at least I will have the Christmas and New Year break to rest and get the shoulder fully fit before starting afresh in 2009."
Campbell, 39, was seen clutching his shoulder during Thursday's opening round, when he shot one-over-par 71 to lie seven shots off the lead.
He has been troubled by the injury since July's British Open. The 2009 season carries the potential of huge earnings following the launch of the 20 million dollar Race to Dubai.
"It's always disappointing to have to withdraw from an event and this is no exception," Campbell said.
"But my shoulder has been causing me concern for some time now and it was hurting so much last night I had to call a doctor to my hotel.
"He had a look at it and the good news was that he said it's all muscular and there's no tearing of the tissue.
"But I have to now look at the bigger picture and whilst I am due to play next week's Australian Masters, I also see 2009 as a big year for me with the new Race to Dubai schedule."
The top 60 money-earners on the European Tour's 2009 season, which started this month in Shanghai, qualify for the 10 million dollar Dubai World Championship next November.
After the tour finale, the 15 players who have amassed the highest prize money over the season will share a separate 10 million dollar jackpot.
Campbell has played steadily since the British Open, registering four top 10s in six European Tour appearances.
He was one of six Major winners competing at the Hong Kong event along with Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Jose Maria Olazabal, Paul Lawrie and John Daly.
Copyright 2008 AFP Global Edition
