Golf: Trevor Immelman ready to make a comeback
Master champ, Trevor Immelman is ready to strike back after a gap of two years and is already eyeing the Bob Hope Classic in 2011.
Immelman injured his left wrist in 2008 and was forced to take a withdrawal from three of the majors in 2009. The worst phase of injury showed in Las Vegas last year, when he was competing in a practice round, and had to be rushed
to the hospital. The player took withdrawal from the tournament and admitted in a hospital in New York for surgery. The broken muscle in the wrist was fixed, but it took another three months for the player to grip a putter in his hand.
The series of withdrawals and last spot finishers led the player to 269th ranking in the world. Ironically, he was the only major winner residing so low as 269. Generally, a top 60 ranking is expected from a major winner.
The South African has a fair idea of his position and expectations that are linked with him. Speaking to the PGA tour.com Trevor said, “Really, in the last 18 months, that hasn't been me playing. I do not
mean that in an arrogant sense. I know what I am capable of when I am feeling good and feeling strong. I'm going to give myself a full season, and then see how that pans out."
After a long time, Trevor is pain-free and hence is seen practicing at Lake Nona in pursuit of making a comeback in next year. Owing to the fitness, the player is excited about the upcoming season and is
expecting to play full season. The Cape Town resident is feeling like a new coin, the way he was at Augusta National two years back. In 2008, Trevor turned Tiger Woods into a duck, when he defeated him with a margin of three strokes. The victory shot him into
world’s highest rank, but after that, injuries and health issues constantly hampered his performance.
Trevor has a long history of health issues. In 2007, the Master winner lost 25 pounds due to a stomach parasite. However, when he was operated, he was diagnosed for a tumour, which was inside his ribs. Luckily, that too was removed
during the surgery.
However, after a long time, the veteran is on the road to perfect health and it has been confirmed by his swing coach, David Leadbetter. The coach said, “I think he's in a good place. I fully expect him to really get it back. It
was not a shock he won Augusta because he has been a very, very good player for a long time. Since that time, people say, 'Geez, what happened to him? He dropped off the face of the earth.' Not quite. Certain injuries can derail a player. The good thing is
he's young enough, and experienced enough, that he's looking at a new dawn, so to speak."
He might be experienced and young, but the new criteria of 13-tournament appearance on European Tour will hamper his plans. The player wanted to play in World Golf Championships, but they require a certain point criteria. If Trevor
sticks to a single circuit i.e. European or Sunshine, then he will not be able to fulfil the requirement laid for WGC.
Despite such resistances, Trevor is ready to hit Bob Hope Classic with his irons. Explaining his plans, Trevor said that he was 30 years of age, which meant that he was yet to deliver the best golf of his career. He added that
he wanted to shoot 65 and hit 18 greens in regulations once again as they gave confidence to a golfer.
Trevor Immelman has started practicing in Lake Nona, which means that he is ready to take the charge of all the fields that he aims to compete.
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