The world number five Retief Goosen has been named the European Tour's player of the month for September after winning consecutive titles in Europe and Asia.

The 36-year-old South African led after every round on his way to a six-shot victory at the China Masters in Beijing on September 4th, before winning the German Masters by a stroke at Gut Larchenhof, Cologne, the following week.

Twice US Open champion Goosen also finished as the leading points scorer for the losing Internationals team in last month's Presidents Cup against the US at Lake Manassas, Virginia, where he beat Tiger Woods 2 and 1 in the last-day singles.

Goosen held off competition from Colin Montgomerie, who ended a 19-month title drought with victory at the Dunhill Links Championship, and New Zealand's Michael Campbell, winner of the World Matchplay Championship at Wentworth.

A panel comprising European Tour players and journalists chooses the award, which is presented each month to honour the best performance by a member on the European Tour and in worldwide competition.

Meanwhile, Denmark's Thomas Bjorn is still recovering in a San Francisco hospital from the viral infection that forced his withdrawal from last week's WGC-American Express Championship, his management company said yesterday.

The 34-year-old Dane, who pulled out before Sunday's final round at San Francisco's Harding Park Golf Course, is expected to make his European Tour return at the season-ending Volvo Masters in Spain later this month.

"Thomas is still in hospital having tests," said a spokeswoman for the International Management Group (IMG). "Some of the tests have already come back saying negative, which is good news.

"We are now waiting to find out when he can leave and come home to get some rest and recuperation.

"Although the viral infection was serious enough to get him into hospital, he seems to be more or less fine now. The viral infection could be the same problem he had in the UK during the Seve Trophy."

Bjorn, who has represented Europe on two triumphant Ryder Cup teams, suffered from influenza while playing for Continental Europe against Britain and Ireland at last month's Seve Trophy in Co Durham, England.

He spent three days in hospital after his team were beaten by 16½ points to 11½, before deciding to make the trip to California for the third WGC (World Golf Championships) event of the year.

Bjorn, who came close to winning his first major at the US PGA Championship in August before finishing a stroke behind Phil Mickelson, will almost certainly end his 2005 European Tour campaign at Valderrama from October 27th to 30th.

"He had entered next week's Majorca Classic but he certainly hasn't confirmed it on his playing schedule," said the IMG spokeswoman.

"It now looks as if his chances of playing in Majorca are unlikely and that his final event on the 2005 European Tour will be the Volvo Masters."

Abu Dhabi will become the 36th country to feature on the European Tour when it makes its debut as a venue on next year's schedule, the tour said yesterday.

The inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, with a prize fund of $2 million, will be played at Abu Dhabi Golf Club's National Course from January 19th-22nd.

"Each season on the European Tour brings a keen sense of expectation and anticipation of the challenges which lie ahead and that is never more the case when the year features a new and exciting destination," the tour's executive director, George O'Grady, said.

"Abu Dhabi is the 36th country the European Tour has visited and the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship will help get the 2006 European Tour international schedule off to a flying start.

Abu Dhabi City is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, which already features well established European Tour events in Dubai and Qatar.