Ahead of the Masters, British Open champion Darren Clarke complained of a groin muscle pain.
Through one round at Augusta National, Clarke’s diagnosis may be different.
Clarke opened with 1-over 73 on Thursday, leaving him six shots behind first-round leader Lee Westwood. It is his first full round since missing the cut last week at the Shell Houston Open.
The Ulsterman is yet to see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis for the source of his pain, but his agent believes it is more than a muscle problem.
“Darren’s always been so stubborn that he would never want to visit a doctor but it could easily be a hernia,” said Chubby Chandler, according to Reuters reporter Bernie McGuire. “It seems to be the symptons of a hernia.”
To get through the first round, Clarke was medicating on course.
“It’s still sore and I’m eating Advils. I will keep taking the pain killers,” he said.
Perhaps as painful, Clarke took 33 putts to get around Augusta National.