Joe Long looks ahead to Masters Debut after surfing accident

With a Masters debut just weeks away, most players would be expected to do nothing to jeopardise what could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Not so for Amateur Championship winner Joe Long, who decided a bit of surfing in Cape Town would be a good idea, only to be “chewed up” by a big wave and suffer a torn muscle.

“I was overdoing it with my preparation, trying to practice all the time and make sure everything was perfect and I spoke to my psychologist and coach and they said to take a little bit of a break,” Long told the PA news agency.

“A friend of mine had been nagging me to go surfing with him for ever and it was quite a calm day so we went out and towards the end he decided to take me to the bigger waves at the back, which I wasn’t too keen on.

“I was paddling towards this big wave, couldn’t turn round in time and it just chewed me up basically. In the process I tensed my body and tore a muscle in my glute.

“It was painful, I’m not going to lie to you. I was very worried when it happened and there is some kind of compensation my body has been making in the swing to avoid that area, but everything happens for a reason and it forced me to take a little break.

“I certainly won’t be going surfing before any more competitions this year, that’s for sure.”

Long’s victory over practice partner Joe Harvey in the final of the 125th Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale secured invitations to the Masters, US Open and Open Championship, after which he plans to turn professional.

Read AlsoWorld number one golfer says no to Olympics over travel issues

The 23-year-old from Bristol also has May’s Walker Cup to look forward to after being named in the Great Britain and Ireland team earlier this week, but has already enjoyed four practice rounds at Augusta National ahead of the Masters.