Golf: Young Kiwi golfer's struggling to get medical issue off his chest

Ben Campbell has had a range of tests but nobody can pinpoint what is causing the problem. Photo / NZME.

Ben Campbell just wants to know what is wrong with his chest.

The Kiwi golfer has been plagued by a niggling injury since May where his chest swells up painfully, leaving him unable to play.

He boxed through the pain this month to earn his playing rights for this year's PGA Tour of Australasia, while he will tee it up in China this week as he looks to earn a tour card for the PGA Tour China series.

Campbell has had a range of tests but nobody can pinpoint what is causing the problem. He has also been struck by occasional fatigue.

"Everyone doesn't really have an idea at the moment of what to do or what's caused it," Campbell said.

"I"ve got a chest that's the size of a double D boob then my inflammatory markers in my blood aren't even up. So how can they not be up when it's like that?"

He will likely see a rheumatologist next month but in the meantime he will have to push through the ailment and rely on a few painkillers. "I'll be feeling great one day and playing really well ... and then the next day I can barely swing the golf club."

He was in hospital only two days before he played the final stage of qualifying school on the PGA Tour of Australasia in Melbourne where he eventually finished ninth.

Masterton's Campbell, who turned professional in 2012, hasn't spent a full year in New Zealand since his late teens but the 23-year-old will soon set up camp in Palmerston North as he eyes a season in Australasia.

After the China and Australia events, the NZ PGA Championship and the NZ Open await in March.

Kiwis Josh Geary, Daniel Pearce, Matthew Williams, Sean Tan and Steve Tan will also play this week's qualifying event in China.