Friday 26 December 2014 19:34, UK
American star Steve Stricker will be out of action for at least eight weeks after undergoing surgery on his back.
Stricker, a 12-time winner on the PGA Tour, had the procedure at a Wisconsin hospital on Tuesday after being hampered by a compressed nerve in his lower back that has caused problems in his hips and legs.
"I'm very excited to get back to practising and competing in 2015 and expect to be 100 percent physically which really excites me," said Stricker.
Stricker, who reached as high as second in the world rankings, is currently ranked 41st.
He will not miss much golf - Stricker already plays a reduced schedule, and he was not likely to play in 2015 until the ‘Florida swing’ in March.