It seems that Rory McIlroy’s shock withdrawal from the defence of his Honda Classic was more mental than the pain of dental concerns.
McIlroy later cited an aching wisdom tooth as he reason for walking off after finding the water with his drive down the 18th.
However after commencing Friday’s round at level par from the 10th, McIlroy posted a double bogey at the 11th where he had uncharacteristically slammed his club into the ground in fluffing his chip shot from rough behind the flagstick
McIlroy then bogeyed the 13th before taking a horror triple bogey at the par four 16th when he twice found the water to crash to six over par for the $6m event.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy heading to the car park after crashing to seven over par after eight holes on day two of Honda Classic. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
But when McIlroy three-putted from 40-feet for bogey the par three, 17th and then put his ball into water at the 18th it seemed the final straw for the increasingly frustrated World No. 1.
The Northern Irishman was playing in the company of Ernie Els and Mark Wilson.
Els had also hit into the water on the 18th and was speaking to a rules official about the muddy conditions of the fairway before realising McIlroy was done with the tournament.
“I was dropping my ball and I realized he wasn’t dropping his ball,” said Els to reporters.
“I thought maybe his ball crossed the hazard nine further up but when I hit my fourth shot, Rory just came up and said, ‘Here’s my card. I’m out of here.'”
McIlroy headed straight for the players car park and is reported to have been asked three times if there was anything physically amiss but he responded in the negative.
“There’s not really much I can say, guys,” he said.
“I’m not in a good place mentally, you know.”
It was not till an hour later, McIlroy released a statement through his Horizon Sports management company and sighting problems with a wisdom tooth. (See earlier www.golfbytourmiss.com story)
“I’m a great fan of Rory’s but I don’t think that was the right thing to do,” Els said.
But when the four-time Major winning South African was made aware McIlroy was suffering pain from a troublesome wisdom tooth, Els responded: “I didn’t see anything, but if he had a toothache, that’s what it is, you know?
“Hey, it’s tough. If you ask him how he’s feeling now, he’s obviously feeling terrible for what’s happened this morning.”
And Wilson, a former Honda Classic winner as McIlroy, was asked by reporters present at the event if he heard McIlroy complaining of dental concerns.
“I didn’t notice anything,” said Wilson. “But he wasn’t playing the way the world No. 1 plays normally. Didn’t hit the ball where he wanted to, and he’s a true gentleman, though.
“He wasn’t treating Ernie and myself in a different way. He was upset with his golf and I guess he had enough for the week.”
McIlroy’s departure from the Honda Classic continues an embarrassing introduction for Nike Golf and continues to leave the sports attire giant crimson faced as his newa Nike Covert driver.
Since the razamatazz of his signing in Abu Dhabi McIlroy’s now failed to deliver in three straight events, missing the cut with pair of 75s in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and last week being bundled out in the opening round by a player ranked 67 spots lower than him on the World Rankings in the WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship.
And what could even more embarrassing for McIlroy is that he may face a fine for his actions earlier today.
