Rory McIlroy will undergo an MRI on his injured back after the pain of letting slip a play-off victory in the BMW South African Open.
McIlroy was intending having the scan on his back Monday – Dubai time ahead of teeing-up in this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
But the injury to his upper back was not near as painful when he stunned a huge following in three-putting the third extra play-off hole for bogey and hand England’s Graeme Storm only his second Tour victory since capturing the 2007 French Open.
Both players ended regulation played tied at 18-under par on the Glendower course on the outskirts of Johannesburg.
McIlroy went into the last day trailing three behind Storm by three and it took him 68 holes to eventually find his way to the lead before letting Storm off the hook and back into a share of the lead after a sloppy bogey at the 71st hole before both players pared the last and with McIlroy posting a 68 to Storm’s 71.
Rory McIlroy plays his second shot at the second extra play-off hole 2017 BMW SA Open. (Photo – European Tour)
Rory McIlroy plays his second shot at the second extra play-off hole 2017 BMW SA Open. (Photo – European Tour)
The pair then pared 18 at both the first and second extra holes before McIlroy, who had missed the fairway, let slip what would have been a 14th Tour win and a first on the African continent.
“I’m in shock,” said Storm.
“It’s been a surreal week to be brutally honest given the position I was in going into the final day and playing with the probably the best player in the world right now was just a dream come true.”
Last October Storm had bogeyed the last hole at the Portugal Masters, and won by Padraig Harrington, to lose Tour membership by just Euro 100.
But some weeks later Ryder Cup winning hero Patrick Reed was taken off the list of 2017 members as he had failed to play the minimum number of events and, as such, Storm found himself being reinstated on the Tour.
“I have to thank Patrick Reed for this victory as if his name had not been removed from the members list for this year, I would not have got back my playing rights,” said Storm.
“So I’ve embraced this with both hands starting by finishing fourth last month in the Aflred Dunhill.”
Unfortunately, McIlroy’s play-off loss also continues an agonising start to every New Year since 2010 after going so close to tasting success in teeing-up in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
He was third in the UAE capital both in 2010 and last year while he was second in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015, including shooting the least number of shots in 2015 but losing the title after a spectator crossing rules mistake.
And McIlroy now heads back to Abu Dhabi with an injury cloud still hovering over him after he again looked in some discomfort on the practice range pausing on a few occasions to undergo stretching exercises.
In fact, it was revealed physio staff had taped McIlroy’s back with Kinesiology or KT tape for support and relief, and with the tape clearly visible through McIlroy’s pink Nike shirt.
And on-course McIlroy was seen popping anti-inflammatory pills including taking one on the tee at the third extra hole.
“I am flying straight to Dubai tonight and I am having an MRI tomorrow to see what’s up with this joint in my back,” he said.
“Okay, it was manageable this week when I’m taped up and I’ve got a few pills in me as I’m fine.
“But the important thing, and first and foremost the main goal is to get healthy again so that I am alright to play next week.
“There was a lot to play for this week but then what I don’t want to do is jeopardise long term goals for short term gains.
“I played well and again I wish I could have done a little bit more but it’s a good way to start the year, and I wish I could have got a win but then we’ve had a fantastic 10 days here in South Africa and I think we are already planning our trip back coming here at the end of the year.”
McIlroy got the final round start he wanted with back-to-back birdies before Storm, who went into the final day leading by three, birdied the third.
McIlroy posted his 22nd birdie of the event at the eighth to get within one of Storm but then at the 11th, and with the chance to again draw level with Storm, McIlroy watched in agony as his birdie putt lipped out.
The pair walked off the ninth with Storm one ahead of McIlroy at 18-under par.
Then finally at the par five 13th, and the 67th hole of the event, McIlroy birdied the hole for a third day running to draw level with Storm.
But when McIlroy looked home and hosed he played a poor tee shot into a greenside bunker at 17 and failed to get the ball out in regulation for a bogey and with Storm taking par for the two to level at 18-under par heading to the last.
“It’s disappointing and having made that bogey on 17 from a tough lie but in saying that, Graeme played well all week, and it’s a great story going from thinking he’d lost his card at the end of last year to winning in this first event of the year,” he said.
“So, I wish I had of done something more but it’s not a bad way to start the season and it definitely helps me to build on.
“I know I needed a decent finish here which I’ve done and while I would have loved to win, I will go to Abu Dhabi and if I win there I think I get back to No. 1 so that’s a nice goal to have.
