Golfer Holmes to have brain surgery

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EDISON, N.J., Aug. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. pro golfer J.B. Holmes said Monday he will undergo brain surgery to correct a congenital defect and will be out of action for three months.

Holmes, 29, withdrew from The Barclays and issued a statement saying he will be treated at Johns Hopkins University Hospital for Chiari malformations.

"I was really looking forward to the playoffs this year and improving on my 31st-place finish from 2010," Holmes said. "But with a three-month recovery before I can get back to form, we decided that the sooner I can get this procedure done, the better."

The golfer was diagnosed with the condition in May after experiencing vertigo. The surgery is set for Sept. 1 and Holmes said he should be ready to resume a full golf schedule within 90 days.

"I know when people hear 'brain surgery' it conjures up all kinds of images, but this is a relatively low-risk surgery and only takes about an hour-and-a-half," he said. "Best of all, there's a very high success rate in fixing the condition."

Holmes is a two-winner on the PGA Tour with four Top-10 finishes this year.