school in Mississippi this week.

Bermuda's top professional had planned to be in the US today, taking part in the first round of a four-day qualifying tournament, but the injury forced him to call off the trip.

The Ocean View pro played in the weekend's Bermuda Open despite the handicap and left his decision to cancel the trip to the US until after the tournament.

"I was due to leave on the last flight yesterday (Sunday), have a practice round today and tee off tomorrow,'' said a disappointed Pearman yesterday.

"If I went away there is no way I could play and keep up.'' Now he will have to put off his dream of qualifying for events on the PGA Tour until 2000.

"Next year, same time,'' he said.

Pearman has suffered problems with his ribs for about a month and it has been affecting his long game. In the Open he finished 17th after rounds of 76, 73, 77, 76 for a 303 total which was 23 shots behind winner PJ Cowan. It was one of his worst performances in the Open in recent years.

"It's only because I couldn't let loose,'' Pearman said of his disappointing showing.

Last week he was at the Azores Open, but couldn't play there because of the nagging injury. "It's been a month already, and it's going to take at least another three weeks so I'm not even going to hit a ball,'' said Pearman.

"I wasn't going to go (to the Azores) but they sent me an invitation to play and I couldn't get hold of the guy who sent the invitation. I didn't want to not go and not get invited back so I decided I better go.'' Pearman had been pleased with the way he had been hitting the ball before suffering the injury.

"My game is getting better,'' he said. "I'm feeling stronger and more pleased about my game. I'm learning more and more over the years.'' Many in the know have often said that Pearman had the potential to play at a high level overseas. But as a family man he admits he is only able to go for short periods of time.

"It's hard to go full-time, unless I got lucky and made the tour. Then it's different, I wouldn't have any other choice,'' said the father of two. "Now I can only go for a couple of weeks at a time.'' Worried look: Dwayne Pearman looked like a man with a lot on his mind during the weekend's Bermuda Open at Port Royal. A rib injury affected his performance and has now forced him out of a PGA Tour qualifying tournament in Mississippi this week.