Golf: Back pain could keep Appleby out of Masters

Stuart Appleby. Photo / AP

Stuart Appleby is still troubled by a back injury that could prevent him defending his Australian Masters title at Victoria Golf Club.

Appleby pulled out of the pro-am event and was on the driving range at the Melbourne sandbelt course on Wednesday testing his back.

The 40-year-old, wearing a back brace, hit four-irons and said he was still in pain.

"It's not feeling real good ... I find it hard to get back into the normal swing so I must be protecting it still," said Appleby, who was unsure of the cause of the nagging injury that he first felt at the Australian PGA in Coolum last month.

"I won't play if I feel I'm a good chance to pull out after nine. I don't think that's fair to the alternate."

The Victorian is due to hit off on Thursday at 8.15am (AEDT) and said he'd make a decision just before then.

"Tomorrow morning will be the true test. Obviously I've got to get out here at sparrow's and give it a test and see how it goes," said Appleby, who has won multiple titles on the US Tour.

He said he could hit irons, but his back was troubled by woods.

"If I could keep the three-wood and the driver out of the bag, there's a really good chance I'd play," he said.

"I'd love to defend, I'd love to put in an effort and I'd love to get four rounds done.

"That's the ultimate goal."

-AAP