Hunter Mahan is struggling to be fit for next week's Presidents Cup after being forced to withdraw from the Australian Open through injury.

Mahan returned a one-over-par 73 in his first round in Sydney, but failed to make it out for his second round after continuing to be plagued by a neck injury.

American captain Fred Couples is still hoping that a week's intensive treatment will enable him to make his third appearance in the event against their international opponents, but USPGA champion Keegan Bradley is likely to be chosen as a replacement if he fails to make it.

With world number six Steve Stricker also struggling to overcome the effects of a similar problem, it is looking increasingly likely that Bradley will be a part of Couples' plans for the team competition at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

The PGA Tour rookie showed he remains in good form with a solid performance at last week's WGC Champions Tournament, where he finished joint 16th after leading after the first round.

Bradley would become the seventh player on the 13-player team to make his first Presidents Cup appearance in 2025 if selected.

While Couples continues to fret over the fitness of Mahan and Stricker, he has no such worries over the form of wildcard pick Tiger Woods a week ahead of the event.

Couples took the controversial step of naming Woods in his team six weeks ahead of schedule and the 35-year-old appears in fine form, shooting rounds of 68 and 67 to be firmly in contention for honours going into the weekend at the Australian Open.

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