JUSTIN Rose has been forced to withdraw from the BMW PGA Championship due to a back injury.

The 28-year-old, who was runner up at Wentworth two years ago, chose not to play in today's pro-am in the hope of being fit for tomorrow's first round.

However, Rose, who has long suffered from back trouble, has taken the decision not to participate.

That leaves Lee-on-the-Solent's James Ablett as the remaining Hampshire interest in the event.

Rose said: "I arrived back in the UK after an encouraging week at the Players Champs where I felt that I played extremely well and could of challenged for a top finish but gave away a lot of cheap strokes through three putts and other simple mistakes.

"I hit a lot more greens in regulation than I have been and gave myself every opportunity to play well.

"Being back in the UK always ends up being very hectic for me as commitments always get crammed into the 1 week that I am home.

"It has been even more hectic this year travelling back with Leo [Rose's son] where we have been taking him to meet all the extended family and friends.

"Maybe all this rushing around has resulted in my back flaring up again and I am really disappointed to report that I have just had to withdraw from the BMW PGA championships at Wentworth.

"This has been a tournament that I have always loved competing in and is the main reason we travelled back. So having to withdraw is very frustrating for me.

"My goal for the rest of the week is to get fit and prepare myself for the two upcoming tournaments in America before the US Open.

"My schedule has been very hectic as of yet so even though I am injured I am going to try and use this time to re-charge my batteries."