Sterne just pleased to be back

The 30-year-old established himself as one of the European Tour's rising stars as he collected five wins on the circuit between 2004 and 2009.

However, Sterne has managed just ten appearances over the last two seasons, most on home soil, as he has battled his debilitating injury.

The Pretoria native made his first appearance for 11 months when he competed at the Africa Open last month and produced a outstanding display in the circumstances to finish sixth.

South Africa's Richard Sterne admits he is just delighted to be back playing again having missed almost a year with a chronic arthritis problem.

This week he is in the field at the Dubai Desert Classic and, after an opening 66, is challenging once again but, more importantly, appears to finally be putting his health problems behind him .

Right medication

"I've got some disc issues and arthritic problems, but hopefully I'm on the right medication for that now," he said.

"I tried to play a few times last year, but the pain was just too severe and it was affecting my swing.

"I've had a lot of physio to try to strengthen up my body in general and I feel I'm fit enough to play at the moment."

Sterne admits he has taken motivation from the recent success of his countrymen, with both Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel having won major titles over the past couple of years.

"The guys doing so well has given me the determination to try to follow them and do something spectacular at some stage," Sterne told the European Tour's radio station.