Golf: Ricochet ball knocks Kiwi out of Open

Sidelined: Tim Wilkinson. Photo / NZ Herald

New Zealand golfer Tim Wilkinson suffered a potentially major setback involving a bizarre injury caused by a golf ball ricochet, forcing him to retire from the Sony Open in Hawaii yesterday.

Wilkinson apparently hurt his collarbone after trying to play out of a ditch off the fairway on the eighth hole. His ball struck a tree and ricocheted, hitting his collarbone.

He withdrew immediately. Wilkinson had a fine start to his PGA Tour career but has been in the wars since.

He won a medical exemption to start in this year's tour after missing most of last season because of a thumb injury.

"I tore a ligament in my thumb but how it happened will stay private," Wilkinson told the Herald On Sunday when he played in the Australian Masters in November, his first tournament in five months.

"The ligament came clean off the bone but it's feeling good again after surgery."

The Palmerston North golfer, the only New Zealander on the PGA tour, slipped to 173rd in last year's PGA tour money list - well outside the top 125 who retain their tour cards - after the surgery. He is currently ranked 311th in the world.

His efforts to make sure he retains his card were hampered by a poor opening round at Hawaii - he hit a 77 after dropping seven shots in nine holes - but had just hit a birdie in his second round before being hit by the ricochet.

Another golfer with an injury - Australia's Robert Allenby - kept it simple and nursed a sprained ankle at the Sony Open, putting together a three-under 67 in the second round to stay in contention. He was a stroke behind new leader Ryan Palmer, who hit a 66.

Chad Campbell had the round of the day, 64, to be tied for second with Allenby and Zach Johnson.

Allenby, who shot 65 in the first round, was flying high when he landed in Honolulu, having ended last year with consecutive victories in South Africa and Australia. But on a walk with wife Sandy, he badly twisted his right ankle.

"I'm managing my way around the golf course," said Allenby. "I've still got the confidence I could win the tournament."

Big movers yesterday were American Paul Goydos, who shot a 63 to move into a tie for 12th, and Britain's Justin Rose, who shot a 65.

Meanwhile, in South Africa, New Zealand golfer Mark Brown was tied for 38th at the Joburg Open after hitting a fine 66 in the second round. Danny Lee missed the cut.

David Lynn of England shot a four-under 67 to hold a one-shot clubhouse lead when the second round was halted because of a second lightning delay, with 30 players still to complete their rounds.

Lynn, with a 12-under total of 130, leads from Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, who carded a 68. On 10 under were Danny Willett of England, who shot a 67, South Africans Hendrik Buhrmann (65) and Jbe' Kruger (69), as well as Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke (69).