Changing room chat: Another bad break for unlucky Levet

ACCIDENT-PRONE French golfer Thomas Levet has suffered another freak injury which will sideline him for up to six weeks.

The former European Ryder Cup player broke his ribs after slipping on a staircase leading to a tee during last week’s Volvo Champions event in South Africa and he will miss the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, which starts tomorrow.

Levet had to pull out of last year’s Open after breaking his leg when jumping into a water hazard at Le Golf National near Paris to celebrate winning the French Open.

He managed to complete his third round at Fancourt Links in 82 last week before shooting a closing 76 to finish joint last in the tournament, which was won by Branden Grace. It was not until yesterday, when he underwent an X-ray, that he knew the extent of his latest injury.

“Flip, flop, splash, plouch in the bush – fell on stairs on 11th hole last week,” Levet wrote on Twitter. “Will have to miss 3 to 6 weeks – holidays are on the way. I couldn’t carry more than 160m off the tee and +3 on Sunday in those conditions was a miracle.”

Levet will be replaced in the Abu Dhabi field by England’s Sam Little.