BMW PGA Championship

Garcia withdraws from wet Wentworth

ESPN staff

May 22, 2014

Sergio Garcia hit an opening round of 73 © Getty Images

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Sergio Garcia has withdrawn from the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth with a knee injury on the opening day.

Garcia hit an opening round of 73 to finish the day on one-over, but will play no further part after deciding to pull out. The opening day was also hit by rain as play was suspended at 2.02pm before later resuming, with Thomas Bjorn topping the leaderboard on 10-under following a round of 62.

I wish I wouldn't had to withdraw from this great tournament. My knee is bothering me again. Have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning!
— Sergio Garcia (@TheSergioGarcia) May 22, 2014

"This is the same thing that happened on Sunday at the Spanish Open," Garcia said. "It felt better, I guess from resting it Monday and Tuesday, and yesterday it felt okay.

"But I think from walking on it and going down and up and down the hills, it's just been pinching more than anything. I have an edema on the kneecap and I guess it just tightens up as I go.

"I'll go to the physio in Spain and see what he says. I'm sure I'm going to have to take some anti inflammatories. I had an MRI done on Monday morning and they checked it out and they said it was a small edema on the kneecap. I was hoping I was going to be able to feel fine throughout the week. But the way I felt more than anything on the last four holes and on 17 and 18, it didn't feel good at all."

Ian Poulter, who has been struggling with a back injury and was a doubt for the event, took some time before teeing off for his round of 70 to treat the problem.

Time to go to the Physio truck to get some treatment on my back. I'm hoping a really good session will loosen it enough to play today.
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) May 22, 2014