JOHANNESBURG – Tournament favourite Rory McIlroy is hoping a back injury picked up during the second round of the SA Open at Glendower on Friday won’t force him to withdraw.
The Northern Irishman has pulled in the crowd – estimated to be around 8 000 following him today during his second round.
The 27-year-old followed up a first-round 67 with a 68 on Friday. After a slow start where he made bogey-birdie-double bogey, he caught fire in the middle part of his round, reeling off an eagle and six birdies in eight holes before dropping shots at 17 and 18.
At 9-under-par, he is three shots off the lead, held by England’s Graeme Storm.
McIlroy said he would get treatment and hoped he wouldn’t have to withdraw.
“I tweaked my back somehow, and wasn’t very comfortable, I’m still,” he said after his round. “I can’t take a deep breath, so I’ll go and get treatment. I hope I feel better tomorrow; I don’t want to withdraw... there are so many people here, that’s why I kept going.”
He said he was fairly pleased with his round after making such a shaky start.
“I played well (in the middle part). I stuck at it. Once I got going, and the putts started going in, I got momentum.
“It’s disappointing how I finished. I hit it too far at 17 (over the back) and then at 18, I think I was rushing (with the weather coming in).
“The start and finish weren’t great, but everything in between was good. I’m in contention going into the weekend.”
Indeed. But South Africa and all the golfing fans hoping to catch a bit of the McIlroy magic on the weekend will be praying he’s okay and can continue on Saturday morning.