British Open champsuffers freak injury

British Open champsuffers freak injury
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

ST ANDREWS (SCOTLAND), JULY 18: Open champion Paul Lawrie's hopes of retaining the title received a setback on Tuesday in a freak practice course accident.

The 31-year-old Scot was giving a lesson to a group of youngsters in the tented village when one of them caught Lawrie on the left wrist during his back swing. Open organisers said Lawrie visited the European Tour physiotherapy unit and was advised to rest the wrist and cancel his practice round today.

Lawrie's manager Adrian Mitchell said Lawrie was in no danger of missing his title defence and that he would concentrate on his putting until tomorrow, the day before the Open starts. Following his stunning, come-from-behind Open win at Carnoustie last year, Lawrie has struggled to regain top form this year.