Ai Miyazato withdrew from the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore on Wednesday as a precaution after she was hurt in a weekend auto accident.
Miyazato, the 2010 champion, withdrew after hitting balls for about 15 minutes, skipping the pro-am and telling organizers she was still battling whiplash.
''I still have some stiffness in my neck, shoulder, and back area, but it is also a precautionary measure so as not to risk further injury this early in the season,'' the former No. 1-ranked Miyazato said in a statement. ''I now plan to return to Japan to see my trainer for a few days.
''I am very disappointed to withdraw from the HSBC Women's Champions, as I really love this tournament.''
The LPGA Tour said Paula Creamer, Suzann Pettersen and Miyazato were involved in a five-vehicle crash as they were traveling to an airport in Thailand on Sunday to catch flights for Singapore.
Creamer told a pre-tournament news conference in Singapore she had ''pretty bad whiplash" from hitting the headrest.
"But I took it easy, and I hope that I can tee it up,'' she said.
The event starts on Thursday.
''I've felt better, that's for sure,'' Creamer said. ''We will see what happens. It's pretty amazing how we walked away, but things happen.''
Pettersen was unhurt.
Se Ri Pak also withdrew, because of illness.
