Wilkinson out after surgery

Tim Wilkinson has his arm in plaster after thumb surgery and won't be get to play in his first British Open next week.

He now faces applying for a medical exemption from the PGA Tour, either for later this year or for next year's tour.

He had surgery in New York two weeks ago, but kept the injury under wraps and now is home resting in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

About a year ago, the Manawatu professional, who turns 31 on July 26, suffered a minor tear in a ligament on his right thumb while hitting balls.

His coach Andre White in Palmerston North said the tear became a break recently and the ligament was no longer attached to the bone. It had to be screwed back in place.

"It is the top thumb, which supports the club at the top of the back-swing," White said.

It has come at a rotten time, because not only does Wilkinson miss his first major, after having qualified to play at Turnberry, but he needed to keep playing to secure his full tour card for next season.

Wilkinson is 141st on the money list, just 16 places outside the top 125 cut-off, with earnings of US$279,008. He had made six cuts from 14 starts.

"It's been a weird one," White said. "He was looking really good, looking forward to the rest of the year. Now he literally can't play."

It is only a guess when he can come back. He pulled out of the Travelers Championship in Connecticut two weeks ago, the first of four events he was to play, ending with the British Open.

"Now it's a matter of making a new plan, depending how the thumb heals and what rehab he has to do," White said.

He says his protege is trying to be positive.

"He believes he's a great player and will be there many times."