Hadwin rests ailing hip ahead of PGA Championship

Adam Hadwin is optimistic he’ll return for the PGA Championship next week after dropping out of the World Golf ChampionshipsBridgestone Invitational with a hip injury.

The top-ranked Canadian golfer made the call to bow out of this week’s event in Akron, Ohio, on Wednesday, deciding rest is best heading into the final major of the year next week in St. Louis.

Hadwin’s agent, George Sourlis, said the injury was due to femoroacetabular impingement, a condition that causes bones to rub together. The Abbotsford, B.C., golfer has been dealing with it since he was young. It flared up this week following a missed cut at the Canadian Open.

The pain was intense enough that Hadwin couldn’t hit all the shots needed to compete in a tournament. For example, the 30-year-old couldn’t hit balls out of a bunker because of the way his hips are positioned.

Historically, Hadwin’s hips return to normal within a week after rest.

Hadwin missed the Canadian Open cut by one stroke and described his frustration level afterward as “100 out of 10.”

Ariya Jutanugarn is coming around reluctantly to the quirky nature of links golf and that makes the world’s No. 1 player an even more dangerous prospect heading into the Women’s British Open this week near Blackpool, England.

The turning point might have come last week at the Ladies Scottish Open.

Jolted by the “yells” of her caddy, Jutanugarn finally started to modify her game by factoring in the wind and playing what she described as “half shots” and “defend shots.”

The result? A one-stroke win for her first title on a links course.

It fuels her belief she can win at Royal Lytham and St Annes when the fourth major of the year starts on Thursday.

“I feel more comfortable,” Jutanugarn said. “I’m getting better.”

Adam Hadwin