Rory McIlroy suffers food poisoning before WGC-HSBC Champions

Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy is suffering from food poisoning ahead of the WGC-HSBC Champions
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Food poisoning is keeping Rory McIlroy from practicing for this week’s WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai

By Kylie Winkler

Food poisoning is keeping Rory McIlroy from practicing for this week’s WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

The sickness has had quite the effect on his presence on the course. McIlroy was unable to make a promotional event that was scheduled for Tuesday as well as a pro-am competition on Wednesday.

“I’m not feeling great. I ate something a couple of nights ago and Tuesday wasn’t good at all,” he said.

The world No 3 has been taking antibiotics and painkillers for his stomach pain. After trying to eat a small breakfast, McIlroy said the abdominal pain was still too severe to even make a few swings.

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“I just need another day of rest and hopefully I will be better tomorrow and I can play.”

McIlroy finished tied for sixth at the Turkish Airlines Open last week and is still scheduled to tee off at the WGC Champions event on Thursday at 02.45 UK time.

With only three tournaments remaining for him this season, he hopes that he will be able to get out and see the golf course before tomorrow.

“I was thinking of trying to play nine holes, but that would probably do me more harm than good.”

The 26-year-old leads Danny Willett, Shane Lowry and Louis Oosthuizen in the Race to Dubai and is the only two-time winner of the European Tour event. He has finished no worse than sixth in four appearances at the Sheshan Golf Club.

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x