Andrea Pavan ‘optimistic’ of making return to DP World Tour after falling down lift shaft

Andrea Pavan suffered injuries after falling down a lift shaft at a DP World Tour event in South Africa (Getty)

Andrea Pavan has said he is “optimistic” that he can make a playing return to the DP World Tour as he recovers from his fall down a lift shaft.

Pavan suffered severe shoulder damage and multiple fractures to his back vertebrae after the incident at his private accommodation ahead of the South African Open at Stellenbosch Golf Club.

The 37-year-old, a two-time winner on Tour, underwent surgery at a local hospital and has since been recuperating at his home in Texas after the three storey fall, and is hopeful he may yet play professionally again.

“It's hard to say a precise goal, there's more like steps," Pavan said to BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Around three months we'll see how well the bone has healed. Around six months it's about where complete bone healing happens and we'll see how the joint is moving by then.

"It depends on if there are other tissues that were damaged if I need a second surgery. And there's the possibility of necrosis when the blood flow is not sufficient for the bones. There is that risk, but so far it seem like things are positive enough.

"The shoulder is a very demanding joint. Hopefully it's a little less than a year that I can play with a full swing but it's just so new and such a big injury there just a lot of unknowns. But I'm hopeful and the only thing I can do is to try and improve and take it day by day."