Rory McIlroy (left) gets relief from his lower back pain from his caddy Harry Diamond in East Lake Photo: AP/Alex Slitz
On Thursday, Rory McIlroy valiantly attempted to allay fears that a back injury could jeopardize Europe's chances at next month's Ryder Cup.
However, despite the fact that the world number two showed a courageous game, defying pain, scoring 70 points in the first round of the Tour Championship, the captain of Europe, Luke Donald, will still be a disturbed person, watching how a member his top-ranked team Rome is clearly uncomfortable in the East Lake.
McIlroy made no mention of the problem in preparation for the $75 million (£59 million) PGA Tour season finale, and only a handful of people have been made aware of it. a few hours before the start of the match, it was revealed that he had been injured.
“Tuesday morning, I felt a little tense, went to the gym, went for something, and my whole right side was completely sore, spasm,” he explained. “So I spent two hours at the physical at home, flew here, felt a little better, got some treatment, and then went to the gym on Wednesday.
“I was at the bottom of the bodyweight squat. , and my entire lower back spasmed and clutched. I couldn't move. To be honest, yesterday this time I couldn't turn to the ball. So getting to where I am today is good.
“I hung out there. I just felt that if I could get through today… it's better than it was yesterday… hopefully tomorrow will be better than today. Just try to keep progressing.”
There was a warning. “When I play a lot of golf, especially at the end of the season, I always have to keep an eye on the right side,” he said. «My ribcage, intercostal space, lats are always very tense, all the way to my right thigh.»
On Wednesday's video, the 34-year-old is clearly in discomfort as he walks towards the clubhouse. He hit about 20 balls before heading to the physiotherapist's van. McIlroy was able to start the game, but after playing his first nine holes of two, the alarm went off.
McIlroy hit a two-foot wedge in 10th, and although he missed in 11th, he picked up the pace again, hitting three birdies on four holes from 13th.
McIlroy's difficulties eclipsed Sunday's $18m (£14m) first prize battle with Collin Morikawa scoring under-9s under-61s to equalize under-10s alongside compatriot Keegan Bradley who scored 63 , and Norwegian Viktor Hovland after 68. The leaderboard is, of course, ridiculously skewed by the handicap system the Tour uses in the FedEx final.
Scotty Scheffler led what was basically the PGA Tour order of merit heading for the crucial 72 holes, so he started 10 under, sliding down to the 30th player on the field, who started with nominal level. Morikawa, who finished 24th, also started 10 points behind, but made up for a one-round deficit with Scheffler scoring one over 71.
In a convoluted scenario that probably won't make sense until the weekend, McIlroy is just three to seven short. «I'm ecstatic about it,» McIlroy said, before further downplaying the injury. “Look, this is a muscle spasm that protects my ribs, joints and everything. It's just the muscle spasm that makes me uncomfortable.”
Donald will pray that this is true. The Englishman plays at the Czech Masters tournament in Prague. In the fight to reach the final of the three automatic places on the European points list, Bob McIntyre showed his determination to keep his grip by scoring a goal among players six under 66 and three behind leader Sami Walimaki.
However, the standings are very tight, and the German Yannick Paul, only 90 points behind the Scot, scored the same result. Poland's Adrian Meronk and Spain's Adrian Othageui could also pass McIntyre ahead of next week's final qualifier in Switzerland. Donald scored 71 goals.
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