Patrick Reed's mid-round withdrawal after striking a tree root provides a practical lesson for older golfers on managing shoulder stiffness and hidden hazards.
On September 18, Patrick Reed withdrew from the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth during his second round. He had opened the tournament with a strong score of 68. Before his second round began, Reed noted that his neck and shoulder felt tight. He even mentioned that his shoulder "kind of popped" on the very first tee.
On the ninth hole, he struck an unseen tree root during his swing. This sudden impact led to noticeable hand swelling and pain. Reed explained that he could not hit a normal flop shot or an ordinary iron shot after the impact. According to reports from the International Business Times UK, he withdrew because the swelling caused concern about a potential broken hand.
He described it as the first injury-related mid-round withdrawal of his career. He stated that he "never saw it coming." Medical examinations in Texas later found no structural hand damage. The report noted that Reed identified a shoulder problem as the underlying issue.
No precise diagnosis was disclosed to the public. Following his doctor's advice, Reed also withdrew from the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship to rest. He took additional time away before returning to competition at the Spanish Open in Madrid on October 8. At his return, he said he felt healthy enough to play and compete while acknowledging lingering discomfort.
Before that event, he led Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai standings by 307.76 points. The report listed Reed at 3,423.62 points and McIlroy at 3,115.86.
When a golf club strikes a solid object like a tree root, the clubhead stops abruptly. The force of that sudden stop travels directly up the steel or graphite shaft. This shockwave hits the hands first, which can cause immediate swelling and pain. The vibration from the shaft then moves up the arms into the shoulder joints and neck.
If those joints are already tight, they lack the flexibility to absorb the sudden shock safely. Reed reported that his neck and shoulder felt restricted before he even teed off. A tight shoulder joint cannot rotate freely during the golf swing. When an unexpected impact forces a tight joint to stop suddenly, the surrounding tissues take the brunt of the stress.
The golf swing requires a smooth transfer of energy from the ground up to the club. When the neck and shoulders are stiff, that energy transfer is broken. The body instinctively compensates by changing the swing path to make contact. This compensation often puts the hands and wrists in unnatural positions at impact.
If the club then hits a solid root, the poorly positioned joints absorb massive amounts of shock. This chain reaction might explain why Reed pointed to his shoulder as the real issue, regardless of the initial hand swelling. The entire arm acts as one connected chain during the swing. If the shoulder cannot move well, the hands and wrists often have to work harder to complete the motion.
They absorb more friction and force at the moment of impact. The fact that medical exams found no actual hand damage highlights this connected relationship. The hands showed the visual symptoms, but the underlying restriction lived higher up in the body. A stiff upper body simply cannot manage unexpected forces well.
Experienced golfers over 40 are especially vulnerable to this exact chain of events. Morning stiffness in the neck and shoulders becomes a common reality as we age. Many recreational players try to push through this tightness without a proper warm-up. They assume the stiffness will naturally loosen up by the third or fourth hole.
They want to keep up with their playing partners and avoid slowing down the group. As we have seen in discussions on playing through mid-round stiffness, this mindset is common but dangerous. Playing with early restriction leaves the joints highly exposed to sudden stress. Hidden hazards like thick roots or hardpan dirt are common on public courses.
Amateurs frequently try to hit heroic shots out of these tricky lies. When an older golfer swings a club with pre-existing shoulder stiffness, a sudden root strike can be jarring. The club stops, but the body wants to keep rotating. Tour professionals have immediate access to medical teams when something goes wrong.
Recreational players do not have that luxury, and we tend to ignore the warning signs. Ignoring sudden swelling or a loss of normal function is a dangerous habit. Reed chose to stop playing when he realized he could no longer hit a standard iron shot. Older golfers must learn to recognize when their bodies are genuinely restricted.
Pushing through acute pain after a sharp impact is a quick way to cause lasting harm. Learning how to protect your longevity on the golf course means knowing when to stop. It is far better to walk off the course than to risk a long-term setback.
To avoid a similar fate, you must assess your body before you reach the first tee. If your neck and shoulders feel unusually tight, change your approach to the round. Begin with a very gentle movement to test your range of motion. Stand tall and place your hands across your chest.
Slowly rotate your upper body to the right, and then return to the center. Focus entirely on turning your trail hip back without forcing the movement. Keep the motion slow and controlled. If you feel a sharp catch or a deep restriction, take it as a clear warning sign.
Do not try to forcefully stretch through the stiffness right before your round. Limit your swing speed and avoid hitting out of any risky lies. Accept a shorter drive if it means swinging with less physical strain. Take a penalty drop if your ball rests near a tree root or a hidden hazard.
A restricted swing cannot safely handle the shock of a sudden impact. Stop playing immediately if you experience unexpected swelling or cannot execute a normal shot. Taking a few weeks off to rest is much better than forcing a bad situation. As we note in our thoughts on injury prevention and warm-ups, preparation is your best defense against unexpected course hazards. Protect your joints first, and the scorecard second.
Every round of golf carries a small amount of physical risk. Managing that risk requires honest communication with your own body. You cannot control hidden roots, but you can control how you react to stiffness. What adjustments will you make to your mobility routine this season to steer clear of this hazard?
Follow Golfergy for practical insights on performance, mobility, recovery and healthy ageing. Stay connected for new articles, research-led guidance and ideas to help you play better for longer.
Review elbow and wrist pain patterns in golf through symptom notes, practice changes, ground contact and grip condition, without assuming a quick fix.
Tiger Woods’ 2017 Dubai withdrawal offers a measured lesson for golfers over 40, with NHS guidance on when back pain needs medical attention.
Understand a stiffer golf turn, notice changes without self-diagnosis and learn when comfortable movement or individualized advice may help.
Explore practical resources on performance, recovery, mobility and golf longevity.
Read the Blog
