The last thing anyone wants to see is the sight of a 22-year old ultra talented golfer staring at burn out.
Well that’s how Rory McIlroy looked after two rounds of the UBS Hong Kong Open.
And one of the first aspects on the agenda of his new Horizon Sports Conor Ridge was to put a stop to the ‘madness’ of McIlroy’s heavy season-ending schedule.
McIlroy will re-enter hospital next week after having spent four days mid last month in hospital due to poor blood levels.
The reigning U.S. Open champion travelled to the Maldives with new girlfriend, Caroline Wozinacki ahead of the recent Mission Hills World Cup.
But it was hardly the romantic break McIlroy had sought in needing to spend three days in a Male hospital.
Rory McIlroy feeling very deflated after heavy season-ending schedule.
A week later the couple travelled to Dubai and while the Tennis World No. 1 received her first formal golf lesson, McIlroy spent another day on an intravenous drip.
Since finishing runner-up to Michael Hoey in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, McIlroy has undertaken a whirlwind schedule.
He travelled to Seoul where he finished runner-up in the Korean Open and then onto Bermuda for the Grand Slam of Golf before travelling to Turkey to spend some time with his girlfriend.
It was then onto China commencing for four events commencing with the seven-day, seven city China Golf Challenge before a second victory this year a week later in the Lake Maclaren Shanghai Masters.
McIlroy then contested the WGC – HSBC Champions event also in Shanghai before his fortnight holiday with Wozinacki.
It was then back to China for the Mission Hills World Cup and then up to Yokohama on Monday for Japan earthquake charity fund-raiser and onto this week’s UBS Hong Kong Open.
And if Dubai doctors so advise next week, the current World No. 2 may consider withdrawing from his final event of the season, the December 15th starting Asian Tour’s season-ending Thailand Golf Championship.
“I’ve got to try and win this tournament to give myself a chance going into Dubai next week, and then take it easy for the first few days of next week in Dubai,” said McIlroy.
“For a few days in between the HSBC Champions and the World Cup and spent three days on a drip in the Maldives which wasn’t too nice,” he said.
However one first aspects Ridge has sort to change since taking over the management reins of McIlroy is to immediately cut back his playing schedule.
“Rory obviously picked up something on the seven-day China Golf Challenge and he has to go back and see the doctor next week as his blood levels were very low and his blood count wasn’t that good,” said Ridge.
Conor Ridge watches over Rory McIlroy working on his short game ahead of the third round UBS Hong Kong Open. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“So as for playing in Thailand the week after Dubai, I don’t know at this stage.
“At this stage he will still travel to Bangkok but if the doctors advise otherwise then he won’t compete. I’ve informed organisers of the event the situation but I feel he should be okay.
“But you can see how he’s looking now that he’s ready for a long break.
“However Rory, J.P and myself sat down earlier this week and had a good look at his schedule and we had a really, really run through where he will play next year.
“He’s played something like 25 events this year but then in recent months Rory’s played the Grand Slam of Golf, those four events in China including the China Golf Challenge and then he was Yokohama on Monday for the earthquake and tsunami fund-raiser with Ryo Ishikawa.
“It’s just madness to be playing so much golf but then when we looked at his schedule for next year, it’s hard to cut back tournaments.
“You can understand a guy like Tiger Woods only plays about 20 events a year and certainly what we discussed on Tuesday will be a schedule certainly focussed around the Majors and the WGCs.
“Rory will still be a global player but his schedule will also focus on taking good breaks.
“But Rory is an unbelievable kid because he’s either elated or guttered, and that’s true, because he knows he can win any event and when he’s looking to give everything he can, you don’t want him going into weekends feeling drained or down on energy.
“I’ve got nothing about him playing around the world but having to travel to events like the Malaysian Open straight after what happened at the Masters just doesn’t work for him.
“The thing is you don’t want to see Rory as tired as he is this week.”
