England's Luke Donald has been ruled out of Ryder Cup contention and will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing left wrist surgery. The procedure was performed in New York yesterday.
Donald, 30, first suffered the tendon injury during the final round of the US Open in June. At the time, he opted to try and recover without surgery, but after seeing little progress decided to undergo a procedure.
"While there is never a good time for an injury, the timing of this injury was especially disappointing for me considering it forced me to miss the Open Championship and it comes in a Ryder Cup year," Donald said.
"But taking proper care of it is my highest priority."
Donald will begin strengthening exercises on the wrist in six weeks, and should be able to begin chipping and putting after three months of recovery and rehabilitation.
Donald made his Ryder Cup debut in 2004 at Oakland Hills but it was two years later at the K Club that he made his biggest contribution so far, winning all three of his matches as Europe claimed a third successive victory over the United States.
He stands 22nd in the world rankings but would have needed to rely on a wild card to take part in next month's Ryder Cup match at Valhalla.
With three weeks left until the team is finalised, the players in line for automatic places in Nick Faldo's 12 as things stand are Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson from the world points list — and Miguel Angel Jimenez, Graeme McDowell, Rose, Oliver Wilson and Soren Hansen off the separate table based on European earnings.
Donald stands 11th in the world points list, having missed the Open and US PGA this summer.
With his unavailability now confirmed, captain Faldo has to select his two wild cards from a list which includes Darren Clarke, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and Colin Montgomerie.
