Rory McIlroy’s whirlwind end-of-season schedule has taken it’s toll with the reigning U.S. Open champion revealing he recently spent four seperate days in two hospitals to be put on an intravenous drip
McIlroy bogeyed two of his closing three holes to end tied for the lead with Spain’s Alvaro Quiros after two rounds of the UBS Hong Kong Open.
A very weary-looking McIlroy recorded a one under par 69 to finish tied on seven under par with Quiros who recorded a similar score on the suburban Fanling course.
“I got sick for a few days in between the HSBC Champions and the World Cup,” he said.
“It sort of took a little bit of energy out of me. I was on a drip for three days actually in the Maldives which wasn’t too nice.
“My energy levels were down but then it’s the end of season, and I’m sure it’s not just me that’s feeling like this.”
In fact, McIlroy’s blood count was so low he entered hospital in the Maldives and then also visited a Dubai hospital where he underwent a further intravenous drip ahead of travelling to Hainan Island and last week’s Mission Hills World Cup
He had been in the Maldives and Dubai for a two week break with new girlfriend and Tennis World No. 1 Caroline Wozinacki.
“It’s been a long season, and there’s a couple of more weeks left and we get to enjoy Christmas,” added McIlroy.
Quiros, 28 also recorded a similar number of birdies as the Spaniard seeks to capture a second Race to Dubai title this season.
And one of Europe’s biggest hitters again displayed his humorous side when quizzed if he was happy to be leading.
“Well, I made the cut, which is something good, something positive, having consideration that this golf course is not a typical fit for me, so I’m happy,” he said.
And Quiros is anxious to continue a strong Spanish record in the Hong Kong event with compatriot Jose Maria Olazabal winning in 2001, Jose Manuel Lara in 2006 and Miguel Angel Jimenez in 2007.
Scotland’s Richie Ramsay (66) and Thailand’s Panupol Pittayarat (65) share third place at six under par with Jimenez (70) and New Zealand’s Danny Lee (75) at five under par.
Former U.S. PGA winner, Y. E. Yang (69) is among a group of players on three under par.
And Yang could be singled out for the ‘Shots of the Day’ in playing the par four eight hole.
Yang, who defeated Tiger Woods in 2009 at Hazeltine, found his way down two other adjoining holes before holing a four-foot putt for bogey.
Yang’s tee shot came to rest to his right on the adjoining seventh tee from where he purposely put his second to the left side of the sixth fairway.
The 39-year old Korean then hit his third over trees to the back of the eighth green and then two-putted from sixty feet.
“It was very inconsistent today because I had a morning tee time, and I didn’t sleep that well, felt very cold and not fully warmed-up,” he said.
Northern Ireland’s Gareth Maybin kept his hopes alive of retaining this European Tour card for 2012 with a fourth hole ‘ace’ in a round of 73 for a one under par tally.
Maybin arrived in Hong Kong lying 120th on the European Tour money list and five places shy of retaining his Tour card.
The newly-married Maybin earned a $HK 179,600 Omega Seamater wrist watch for his second hole-in-one of his European Tour career and a second in three months.
And joining Maybin for the closing two rounds was triple Major winning Padraig Harrington (71) who shares 39th place at one over par as he strives to finish among the top-five that would qualify him for next week’s season-ending Dubai World Championship.
Also making it through the one over par cut-off mark was European Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal each with rounds of 69 for similar two over par totals.
And double Major winning John Daly, with a second round 68 for a two over par total, will play all four rounds.
