Shropshire golfer James Busby hope on injury woe

The Telford golfer has not competed on the European Tour since failing to make the cut at the Open de España in Valencia two months ago.

Busby, 31, shot a second round 84 to finish the tournament in tame fashion, 15 over par.

The debilitating hip pain he has suffered since the turn of the year has blighted his debut campaign on the European circuit, not least on his last outing.

He has applied to the Tour for a medical exemption with the hope of resuming his pro career next year.

Busby said: "It would mean I would have to drop 30 places in 2014 and I'm waiting to hear if they will grant me one.

"I'm struggling to move at the moment. I was nursing a stiff groin after Christmas and it's got progressively worse.

"I have never played golf that badly before, but getting your hip through the ball is key to hitting shots. I had no control and no power.

"It was heartbreaking after qualifying for the Tour."

Busby won his European Tour Card in dramatic fashion with a second-place finish in the Challenge Tour final last year, which catapulted him up the rankings at the death.

He returned from his six Tour tournaments empty-handed after failing to make the cut in each, shooting nine-over-par finishes twice.

A recent MRI scan showed swelling at the hip joint, but a precise diagnosis has yet to be made.

But Busby is certain the injury is unrelated to injuries he sustained in a car crash soon after turning professional in 2004.

He said: "I'm seeing a specialist in Shrewsbury on Friday, so hopefully it will become clearer – I'm not sure what it is and I just want to find out what is wrong.

"It's a strain that is to do with golf, but it has just got worse and worse. I've no income and have had to rely on my girlfriend for support."