Rory Steals From Tiger Playbook Again: Walk-Off WD
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There was no helicopter television coverage this time, but Dave Shedloski reports from Bear Trap National on Rory McIlroy's bizarre walk-off WD. It came at the Honda Classic after taking 41 shots on his first nine holes, but before he'd putted out on the ninth.
The scene was reminiscent of last year's WGC-Cadillac Championship when Tiger Woods withdrew on the 12th hole of the final round and promptly exited Doral Resort. Woods cited an Achilles injury that afternoon. Ken Kennerly, the tournament's executive director, said he was still awaiting word on the reason for McIlroy's withdrawal. According to the Associated Press, McIlroy said he was "not in a good place mentally."
Golf Channel's Bailey Mosier posted this ominous Tweet:
Rorys agent: "He's not hurt. He's not sick. And he won't answer his phone. I don't know."
The official PGA Tour account says McIlroy withdraw from severe wisdom tooth pain.
**McIlroy's official statement put out by the tour:
"I sincerely apologize to The Honda Classic and PGA Tour for my sudden withdrawal. 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 favorite tournaments of the year and I regret having to make the decision to withdraw, but it was one I had to make."
**Jeff Babineau was there and says McIlroy was near tears.
The defending champion at the Honda, who has captured two major championships by age 23, was near tears as his caddie placed his clubs into the trunk of his blue BMW sports car and he headed out of the lot at PGA National shortly before 10 a.m.
He was 7 over for his round (and the tournament) heading down the 18th fairway, and chose not to drop a ball and hit his fourth shot.
“There’s not really say much I can say, guys,” he said to three reporters in the parking lot. “I’m not in a good place mentally, you know?”
**Bob Harig notes that "The tournament withdrawal rules McIlroy ineligible to win the PGA Tour's scoring title" that McIlroy won in 2012.
Jason Sobel is pretty blunt: "This is beyond poor form. This is quitting. This is John Daly territory. This is the absolute opposite of what we expect and demand from our superstars."
**Will Gray has this and other quotes from playing partner Ernie Els:
"I'm a great fan of Rory's, but I don't think that was the right thing to do," Els explained after firing an even-par 70, leaving him at 1 under for the tournament.
**Brandel Chamblee on Golf Channel:
“Todd Lewis (Golf Channel reporter) hit the nail on the head when he said this is going to add to the questions that already existed due to the equipment change and the poor play, and not busting 75 in the two rounds he played over in the Middle East. The contrast of the stories, the one saying he is in good form, another saying he did not know what was wrong and then later saying it was due to a wisdom tooth issue, will raise further criticism…Clearly this is not an equipment issue. This is a golf swing issue, and in this particular instance, and anybody who has dealt with wisdom pain can tell you, it is almost impossible to do anything other than deal with the issue of the pain.”
