EDDIE Pepperell is hopeful of being fit for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai next month after suffering a scare.

The Frilford Heath member was forced to withdraw in China this morning due to injury.

Pepperell hurt his back when warming up on the driving range for his first World Golf Championship event in Shanghai and was unable to move.

But the 27-year-old tweeted several hours later to announce he was up and walking, thanking the tournament’s physios.

The World No 34, from Abingdon, added he was not sure how long the injury would take to heal, but is “hoping to be good for Dubai”.

Pepperell had headed into the HSBC Champions tournament at Sheshan International GC off the back of winning the British Masters – his second European Tour victory – just under a fortnight ago.

He was due to partner Spain’s Ref Cabrera Bello and Patrick Cantlay, from the United States, but Australian Jason Scrivener took his place.

Patrick Reed leads by two shots in China after carding an eight-under-par 64.