Dani Masters' future uncertain

as her back plays up

FROM THE KENTNEWS.CO.UK WEBSITE
Exclusive by DAVID PRITCHARD
Dani Masters says she felt “sick with disappointment” after making the heartbreaking decision to retire from the Dubai Masters and lose her Ladies European Tour card for next season.
The 25-year-old, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, had a wretched 2008 season, which was ruined by a succession of injuries. She recovered just in time to play in the final tournament of the season, but a recurrence of a back injury forced her to pull out in the second round.
Her chances of playing on the Ladies European Tour in 2009 now rest solely on her performance at Qualifying School at La Manga at the beginning of next month.
Masters told Kent News earlier this month how excited she was to be fit enough to compete in Dubai. However, the enthusiasm proved her downfall. Too much golf in the build-up to the tournament led to the problems with her back resurfacing during the second round.
“There were quite a few tears when I had to retire,” she said. “It was a massive disappointment because I worked so incredibly hard with everything I felt I needed to do. I had done so much in the eight weeks and been so dedicated that to only play 27 holes - I was absolutely gutted. I felt sick with disappointment and like I had let myself down.”
After five months away from competitive golf, Masters needed a good finish at the Emirates Golf Club to stand a chance of finishing in the top 80 on the Ladies European Tour’s Money List, who are exempt for the 2009 season.
The withdrawal left her 109th, less than £10,000 short of the cut-off mark.
It leaves the Chart Hills member with an uncertain future after three promising years on the professional circuit.
She has one chance to regain her card for next season, the notoriously high-pressure Q-School. The 72-hole tournament at the luxury La Manga resort in southern Spain will act as the last chance saloon for many hopefuls, with the top 30 granted access to the potential riches on the Tour in 2009.
The first hurdle for Masters is whether her back will stand up to four days of intense competition.
She said: “It’s an unknown. My body’s always been able to cope with everything but all of a sudden it’s not right. I now know I shouldn’t do what I did before and play a lot of golf beforehand.
"The way I look at it is I played four rounds pain-free in Dubai and I can’t see why I couldn’t do that again.”
Masters negotiated the LET Qualifying School three years ago to win her card and is hoping the experience will stand her in good stead this time. If she did miss out, it would mean a year on the sidelines before trying her luck at Q-School in 12 months’ time, something she has been forced to contemplate.
“I would be distraught if I failed, but you move on. I’m really passionate about golf but it’s never been the be all and end all. If something happened which meant I couldn’t carry on I would have to do something else.
“I wouldn’t just give up. With all the injuries this year it would be nice to give myself another chance next year if I didn’t make it this time.”