Rory McIlroy has been forced to withdraw from the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after tests revealed he has sustained a rib injury.
The Northern Irishman underwent extensive clinical examinations on Monday after picking up the injury in South Africa last week. McIlroy will now commence rehabilitation and will return to golf when he is fully recovered from the stress fracture.
He said: “It’s bitterly disappointing to have to withdraw from the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. I think everyone knows how much I love playing this tournament, which is one of the best on the European Tour thanks to the incredible support of HSBC and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council. To be forced to miss this week through injury is really quite annoying to be perfectly honest, but I am sure the tournament will be a huge success and I hope everyone involved has a great week.
“In situations like this you simply have to listen to the experts and the team I have consulted have all advised me to rest until my rib has fully recovered.”
Bad news golf fans: Rory McIlroy has been forced to withdraw from the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship due to a rib injury pic.twitter.com/5NZOcPXNGp
— Abu Dhabi World (@ADWuae) January 17, 2017
McIlroy, currently eighth in the Race to Dubai, has a strong record in Abu Dhabi having finished runner up four times and third twice, including at last year’s event so his withdrawal will be a bitter pill to swallow and marks the first time he’s missed the Desert Swing Opener since he joined the European Tour in 2007.
Having finished second in last week’s BMW SA Open after being beaten by Graeme Storm in a play-off, McIlroy had a chance to regain the World No.1 spot had he won in Abu Dhabi this week.
“If I go to Abu Dhabi next week and win, I think I get back to No. 1, so it’s a nice goal to have going into next week,” McIlroy had said in South Africa. “I really want to make next week because there’s so much to play for. But at the same time, there’s so much to play for this season. I don’t want to jeopardize long-term goals for short-term gains. So we’ll see. Hopefully, I’ll be good to go.”
https://worldwide.golf/feature/rory-mcilroys-mixed-bag-paying-off-south-africa-nike-mcilroy/
