Europe’s Ryder Cup winning star Edoardo Molinari is facing surgery on an injured left wrist.
Molinari revealed his problem after finishing with a share of 11th place in Sunday's Andalucian Open, that he has been carrying the injury for some four years.
However it was not until after returning home from the recent Middle East 'Desert Swing' that the 31-year old Molinari learnt the extent of the injury.
‘The first time I felt pain in my wrist was four years ago when I had tendinitis, but after seeing doctors I've been informed some of the cartilage on top of my wrist has become firm and it needs to be removed,’ the Italian said.
‘I had six weeks off over the winter, but when I went out to the Middle East I knew something was wrong with my wrist as it became very painful.’
After having two cortisone injections on his return from the Middle East, Molinari says he is able to compete without pain killers but had his wrist strapped during his appearance last week in Spain.
'I can wait to around September to have the operation so I will see how it goes through the year,’ he said. ‘Luckily I'm not doing any more damage by playing, but if it does get too painful I will have the operation earlier.'