Vijay Singh watches his shot at The Players Championship golf tournament in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Thursday, May 8, 2008.

BMW PGA | Singh withdraws with muscle injury

By Associated Press for Golf World

Tour News

23 May 2008 09:06

Vijay Singh withdrew from the BMW PGA Championship before it began Thursday because of a muscle injury.

The former top-ranked player injured a muscle below his ribs on his left side. He said it happened after he arrived Monday.

``Perhaps I started hitting balls a little cold after the long trip, or didn't warm up properly,'' Singh said. ``Coming off the flight I was fine and I was excited about playing.''

Singh, who tied for third in last year's championship, said he still hoped to play when he went to the range Thursday morning.

``It was OK until I hit a 3-wood and it kind of started catching me again,'' he said. ``It is a very sharp pain which was unbearable at times. I don't get injured that often and this is a weird one. It is not my ribs, it is not my back. It is the oblique muscle in my ribs. I think there might be a little tear in there as well.''

Singh said he would return home to Florida and would try to play at the Memorial next week.