Rory McIlroy’s up-and-down year has taken another turn — this time specifically in his stomach.
The 26-year-old has been struck down by food poisoning, which McIlroy has attributed to a club sandwich he had eaten in a Shanghai hotel.
“Who would have thought the eel would be the safer bet!? Hopefully I’ll feel better tomorrow,” the Northern Irishman tweeted along with a photo of part of a menu.
The four-time major winner is now a doubt to take part in this weekend’s WGC-HSBC Champions event — for which the winner receives $1.4 million — after withdrawing from Wednesday’s pro-am.
Stomach pain restricted McIlroy to just a few practice swings but the world No. 3 is hopeful of being fit enough to tee off when the competition begins on Thursday.
“I had something from room service a couple of nights ago and yesterday wasn’t good at all,” McIlroy told the European Tour’s website. “I thought I would have been better this morning.”
“I had a piece of toast and a couple of bits of melon for breakfast and I came here and tried to hit some balls, but even just making a couple of swings my stomach was too sore.
“So I just need another day of rest and hopefully I will be better tomorrow and I can play. I was thinking of trying to play nine holes, but that would probably do me more harm than good.”
McIlroy has already had to battle back to fitness once in 2015 after damaging ankle ligaments while playing football, an injury that prevented him from defending his Open Championship title in July.
The four-time major winner is confident that his impressive record at the WGC-HSBC Champions event and good knowledge of the course, combined with the help of his doctor will be enough to give him a shot at the title.
“I’ve seen the doctor who has given me some antibiotics and something for the abdominal pain, plus some painkillers,” McIlroy explained. “I’ll be loaded up, so hopefully I will be OK.
“It would be nice to see the golf course before tomorrow, but I’ve played it (the course) a few times.
“I didn’t play last year but I know the place well and [my caddie] JP has been out there, so it is better that I rest and get my energy up for tomorrow.
“I’ve done well here every time I have played here. I’ve not finished outside the top six, so it has been a really, really good tournament for me.
“I’ve not won it, but I’ve been close. Hopefully if I can get through the first couple of days and play OK, I’ll be feeling a lot better at the weekend and I can make a run at it.”