Hill Succumbs To Lingering Effects Of Mosquito Bites & Extreme Heat Lead To Withdrawing From DP World

2 years ago by Comments Off on Hill Succumbs To Lingering Effects Of Mosquito Bites & Extreme Heat Lead To Withdrawing From DP World

Scottish golfer Callum Hill’s winning season has ended on a disappointing note with the lingering effects of a mosquito bite five weeks ago and the extreme heat forcing him out after just one round of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Hill looked far from well after ending his round posting three bogeys in a three-over par 75 that sent him to near the bottom of the board in sauna-like conditions on the Earth course at Jumeirah Estates.

The 27-year old Crook of Devon golfer headed to the on-course medical centre following his round and with his management company early evening UAE time advising Hill had officially withdrawn.

Hill had been bitten by a mosquito both on the right index finger and also his bottom five weeks ago during the Spanish Open in Madrid; however by scratching the bite, we understand, on his backside it became seriously infected. Though in teeing-up on day one of the DP World there was no sign of anything untoward on his finger but then he looked uncomfortable walking.

According to his manager, Hill also struggled in battling the extreme Dubai heat.

Following the mosquito bite on this rear becoming infected, Hill was put on a 10-day course of antibiotics but found himself side-lined for a month and had returned to competition this week in Dubai admitting ahead of tee-off he felt 90% fit but that clearly was not the case as the 27-year-old Scot battled in the draining Dubai heat.

Hill spoke exclusively to the Daily Record & www.golfbytourmiss.com  before visiting the on-site medical unit and before word of his withdrawal saying: “It was a disappointing day.  Three bogeys but I’m just not feeling well, so heading straight to see the ‘doc’.

“It’s all came about from just a simple mosquito bites when I was playing in Madrid.  I ‘popped’ the spot and that’s caused the problem as it allowed bacteria to get into my finger and it became an abscess and got badly infected.

“I was off for a month and then went out to Portugal and only played the one round and while I was due to play out here in Dubai last week, I decided to take the week off and tee-up this week.  I’d only started hitting balls again two days before coming out here, so it means my practice has been limited.

“I’m just not feeling right so we’ll see what the doctor’s have to say and take it from there”.

The European Tour cited ‘health reasons’ as the nature of his withdrawal and with Hill’s absence reducing the field to 52.

Rory McIlroy produced what he described as an easy 65 to lead the field by two shots as he seeks to win the event for a third time and also claim a trio of victories this year.

McIlroy said: “It was an easy 65 and when you’re six-under through eight and you end-up shooting seven-under you feel like you left a few out there,” he said.

“I guess it swings in roundabouts.  I’m not going to complain about shooting 65, but I felt like there’s a couple chances on the back nine that got away from me.  I held a couple nice par putts as well.  It all evens out at the end.

“The thing is, I’m also very comfortable on this golf course.  I’ve been in contention a bunch of times here in Dubai.  I’ve always played this place well, even going back to when (Lee) Westwood won in 2009, I had a chance there.  I’ve always been up there.  I’ve played this place just as much as I’ve played basically any other golf course that I’ve played in my career”.

Open champ Collin Morikawa posted a 68 to remain on track to end the year as European No. 1.

Top-ranked Scot Robert MacIntyre warmed in playing in the company of 2019 Open winning Shane Lowry in shooting a 68 to finish one clear of the Irishman.

MacIntyre said: “I played great to be four-under and it was a really casual round of golf and playing alongside Shane is one of the best guys to play golf with.   He enjoys the game in the same way I enjoy it and that’s being relaxed and pretty stress-free.

“I’ve struggled the past weeks in hitting poor shots and not accepting those poor shots and today I found myself accepting those and just moving on”.

And Grant Forrest birdied his closing hole in a two-under par 70.

 



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