Virus disrupts Stenson preparations

Henrik Stenson, the one player who spared Tiger Woods from finishing last in Ohio on Sunday, is still struggling with his health going into the USPGA Championship.

The Swede's hopes of retaining his Ryder Cup place were given a huge boost when he shared third place in The Open last month, but since then he has been badly affected by what was thought might be viral pneumonia.

He had an X-ray and further tests on Tuesday to try to establish what exactly was wrong and what best to do about an illness that has already seen him lose over a stone in weight and he said: "It started the Tuesday after The Open. I was in bed with a fever for over a week and felt awful for another week before heading over to Akron."

He added: "I only managed nine holes of practice there - the first time I had picked up a club in two weeks - and it's just been dragging on since then.

"I felt a little bit better Saturday and Sunday, but spent three hours in the emergency room this morning being looked over.

"They tell me I've got some virus, some chest infection and I'm on steroids and anti-biotics. One of the possibilities was pneumonia, but at least it did not show up for that.

"The heat here is not recommended, but I had to practise. Playing this course blind you'd have the same chance as finding a needle in a haystack.

"As for the Ryder Cup I had to make something happen at the 11th hour and I did at St Andrews. Then the plan was to have a week off with my family and a good week's practice before this run.

"Obviously I needed two solid weeks to have anything to do with the match, but now I'm going to do whatever I can this week in the circumstances."