Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
World number two Rory McIlroy has withdrawn from the PGA Championship starting tomorrow at Wentworth because of a rib injury.
The 28-year-old, who was treated for a stress fracture to his ribs earlier in the year, felt discomfort during the recent Players Championship in Florida.
“I have been advised to take a conservative approach to my recovery,” said McIlroy. “It is disappointing, but I have to ensure I make a full recovery.”
McIlroy won the European Tour’s PGA Championship at the Surrey course in 2014.
The four-time major winner said he would now concentrate on preparing for the US Open in June.
McIlroy originally suffered the rib problem in the off-season after hitting a lot of balls in practice as he tried to decide on new equipment after Nike stopped producing clubs.
It flared up as he lost a play-off to Graeme Storm at the South African Open in January, and he did not feature again until the WGC-Mexico Championship in March, when he finished four shots behind winner Dustin Johnson. The Northern Irishman then felt discomfort at the Players at Sawgra.
He started the new European Tour with Callaway woods and irons, Titleist wedges and balls and a Scotty Cameron putter.
The BMW PGA Championship launches the European Tour’s new Rolex tomorrow with a world-class field preparing to challenge for the prestigious trophy at the newly-revamped West Course from May 25-28.
Featuring 10 of the world’s top 30 ranked professionals, Swede Alex Noren joins the previously announced line-up for Wentworth Club, which include Open Champion Henrik Stenson, Olympic Champion Justin Rose and defending champion Chris Wood.
There is no doubt the 2016 European Tour season was dominated by an overarching theme of Swedish success, with the 34-year-old winning four titles in the space of five months, alongside Henrik Stenson’s Open Championship victory, and he will be looking to continue his remarkable run.
