VIRGINIA WATER, England, May 24 (UPI) -- Defending champion David Howell missed defending his BMW Championship Golf Tournament title because of a back injury.
The back problem limited him to nine holes in Wednesday's pro-am and Howell wasn't able to play Thursday when the BMW officially began.
Howell said he has not been pain-free for some time because of a strain on the sacroiliac joint at the base of the spine.
"Obviously I feel gutted," said the native of Swindon, England. "It is my first big event of the year back in Britain on a course (in Virginia Water, England) where I have won and just half a mile from where I live.
"It is not a nice situation, but at the end of the day, I know that I have won this great title and I hope to have the chance to win it again."
Last year, he won the event by five shots.
