Paul Casey is expected to be out of action for two months after suffering a shoulder injury snowboarding in Colorado.

The English pro is expected to miss the majority of the European Tour's stint in the Middle East, which includes the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

"I am very frustrated as I was really looking forward to getting off to a fast start in 2012," said Casey. "I've always played well in the desert and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is one of my favourite events of the year, so I will particularly hate sitting out that one.

"The good news is that the experts I've seen say I don't need surgery and, having already started my rehabilitation exercises, I should be back hitting balls in a few weeks."

The world number 20 will be unable to defend his title at the Volvo Golf Championship in South Africa due to get underway in a fortnight.