Rory McIlroy Dramatically Withdraws From Honda Classic
Published: Last updated:
Defending champion and world number one Rory McIlroy has dramatically withdrawn from the Honda Classic citing severe tooth ache.
The Northern Irishman was seven-over-par through eight holes and had just found the water at the 18th – his 9th – when he made the decision to retire.
“I sincerely apologise to the Honda Classic and PGA Tour for my sudden withdrawal,” he said in a statement. “I have been suffering with a sore wisdom tooth, which is due to come out in the near future. It began bothering me again last night, so I relieved it with Advil.
“It was very painful again this morning, and I was simply unable to concentrate. It was really bothering me and had begun to affect my playing partners.
“I came here with every intention of defending my Honda Classic title. Even though my results haven’t revealed it, I really felt like I was rounding a corner.
“This is one of my favourite tournaments of the year and I regret having to make the decision to withdraw, but it was one I had to make.”
His withdrawl means McIlroy faces a third missed cut in a row since he changed club and ball supplier from Titleist to Nike at the start of the 2013 season.
The 23-year-old had shown signs of an improvement during Thursday’s opening round when he carded a level-par round of 70 at Palm Beach Gardens. But he made a terrible start to Friday’s round that contained a triple bogey, a double bogey and two bogeys when he walked off the course after eight holes.
