Azahara Munoz to Miss a Month of Play Due to Hand Tumor

Professional golfer Azahara Munoz will miss at least a month of play after undergoing a surgery on her hand Monday to remove a substantially sized tumor.

Munoz said she was confident the tumor was benign but is waiting for the results of pathology tests to be sure.

Munoz became aware something was wrong when she began experiencing sharp pain in her left hand, where the thumb meets the palm, while on the range in December. The area on her hand soon turned purplish.

Because of the injury, Munoz will have to miss the first major of the year, the ANA Inspiration, which occurs in two weeks. Munoz tied for 7th in the competition last year.