Golfer Graham DeLaet to miss Canadian Open tournament due to injury

Graham DeLaet will miss the RBC Canadian Open because of a back injury.

The Weyburn, Sask., golfer missed the opening few months of the PGA Tour season while recovering from back surgery. Shortly after returning in June, he was forced back to the sidelines with stiffness and discomfort.

That ultimately will keep him from teeing it up at this year’s Canadian Open, which will be held July 21-24 at Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club.

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“I am really disappointed my back is not further along and was truly hoping I would play in the RBC Canadian Open,” DeLaet said in a statement Friday. “My long-term progress was the main consideration when making this decision.

“More rehab is needed in order to get completely healthy.

If DeLaet can’t resume playing this year, he could ask the PGA Tour for a medical exemption that would allow him to play in up to 28 total tournaments stretching into 2012. He used two exemptions this season to play at the FedEx St. Jude Classic as well as the Travelers Championship.