Olympic Golf Champion Rose Out of Action Two Months

By ESPN

Olympic champion Justin Rose has announced he will be out of action for the next two months to fully recover from a back injury.

The decision means Rose, who won two points from five matches in Europe's Ryder Cup defeat to the United States last week, will miss next week's British Masters, a tournament he won in 2002.

"Following an intense summer schedule and discussion with my team, I have decided to take the next eight weeks off for rest and recovery," the 36-year-old said in a statement.

"As many of you know, during the Players Championship I experienced discomfort in my back from a disc herniation and was sidelined for the following month.

"I worked hard to be able to return for the U.S. Open, but my ongoing tournament schedule, combined with heavy preparation for the Olympics, did not allow for full and proper recovery.

"At this point in my career, it is important to invest in my body and this time off is crucial for me to return to peak performance.

"The remainder of the year has such a great run of tournaments and I am very disappointed to have to miss out on some of them. The importance of the European Tour's Race to Dubai and my relationship with the British Masters makes these tournaments particularly tough to miss.

"I want to send my appreciation to the European Tour and [chief executive] Keith Pelley for being understanding of my need for time off and I thank them, my sponsors and the fans for their unwavering support."