Golf: Appleby pulls out of Australian Masters

Stuart Appleby. Photo / Getty Images

Defending champion Stuart Appleby has been forced to withdraw from the Australian Masters due to a back injury.

Appleby played the first round at Victoria Golf Club and fired a one-under-par 70.

However he said on Friday before he was due to hit off that his back injury had become too painful for him to continue.

Appleby made the decision after consulting his coach Steve Bann and physiotherapist Tina Maio.

The Victorian said earlier in the week he was confident that with rest and continued treatment he would be fit to resume playing when the US PGA Tour gets underway next year.

Maio said Appleby had been trying for a successful title defence and his body could not take the pressure.

"He probably pushed his back and his body a little more than it was ready for,'' Maio said.

"To get around like he did yesterday showed just how talented he really is, because he probably shouldn't have put his back through those rigours.''

She said Appleby knew immediately after he got up on Friday that he was in trouble but still tried to make an effort to prepare for the second round.

"He woke up this morning and it was very inflamed and in spasm ... and it just hasn't settled down sufficiently to (be able to) play,'' she said.

"He tried really hard to get there. We were icing up until he made the call but the anti-inflammatories he took yesterday didn't really give us an accurate indication as to the end of his range.

"It's pretty badly inflamed ... and just needs time to heal.''

- AAP