Back injury could end Parnevik's career

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- PGA Tour veteran Jesper Parnevik of Sweden says his golf career may be over due to a broken vertebra in his lower back.

The 1994 British Open runner-up underwent emergency back surgery Monday. That procedure will keep him from playing for at least a month and Parnevik said it seems "inevitable" a more advanced operation could risk his career.

PGATOUR.com said Parnevik, 44, had the surgery after a spine specialist at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo., recommended the procedure when a CAT scan revealed the scope of the problem.

Parnevik withdrew after shooting first-round, 3-under-par 68 last Thursday at the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles.

"I was hoping this could be my comeback year and that I could get the injuries taken care of," Parnevik said. "(But) I'll have to hope for a miracle if there's going to be any more competitive golf."

The injury also forced him to withdraw from tour qualifying school in December.