Queenslander Steve Bowditch is hopeful he can return to golf next year after finding the source of excruciating back pain that has dogged him for more than two years.
More importantly, though, the dual PGA Tour winner is hoping he’ll be able to sit and sleep agony-free after booking in back fusion surgery next month.
Bowditch, who seemingly had the world at his feet after winning the 2014 Texas Open and was briefly joint leader during the third round of The Open in 2015 at St Andrews, has since endured a largely silent nightmare.
The Newcastle-born golfer missed 25 of 27 cuts in 2016-17, then missed the weekend in all tournaments he played in 2017-18, all while in horrendous back pain.
And just when the search for relief seemed fruitless, Bowditch revealed on Twitter today that help was hopefully at hand.
“Over the last year, the pain has become a constant in my everyday activity with no relief,” he wrote.
“I had exhausted everything I could think of to diagnose the source of my pain … several MRIs, multiple injections, chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy and massage.”
But for Bowditch, 35, a “moving X-ray” finally discovered the root of his pain.
“Unlike the MRIs, this report revealed two small stress fractures and spinal slippage with a diagnosis of Pars defect and Spondylolysis,” Bowditch wrote.
Bowditch, who thanked people for their support, said that after several surgeons reached the same conclusion, his treatment would involved a surgical fusion of the L5 and S1 next month.
“Fingers crossed, I will once again sit and sleep without any lower back pain … and ultimately be able to return to golf activity in late 2019.”