Rory McIlroy returns to PGA Tour action on Thursday for the first time since his Masters triumph, but the five-time major champion is not on top form due to a bout of illness
Rory McIlroy admits he is not feeling 100 per cent ahead of his PGA Tour return(Image: PGA Tour)
Rory McIlroy’s grand slam celebrations have taken their toll, with the newly-crowned Masters champion feeling “under the weather” as he prepares to make his PGA Tour return on Thursday.
McIlroy admitted he “could barely get out of bed” on Monday morning, just a few hours after returning to his Florida home. The Northern Irishman traveled to his homeland via a stop in England with wife Erica Stoll and their daughter, Poppy, to view their new mansion home on the Wentworth estate.
The 35-year-old became a five-time major champion on April 13, surviving a rollercoaster final round at Augusta National to defeat Justin Rose in a playoff and get his hands on the coveted Green Jacket and cement his name in the history books as only the sixth man to have won all four major championships.
McIlroy ended a 10-year wait for a major win in the process, and after spending time with his loved ones, he will return to PGA Tour action at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he will team up with Shane Lowry. The close friends are defending champions at TPC Louisiana after winning the doubles event in a playoff 12 months ago.
“As you can hear, I’ve picked up a bit of a cold on the way, so [I am] feeling a little bit under the weather,” McIlroy said. “But, obviously, it’s been an amazing few days, and I’m excited and I’m happy to be here with my man, and we’re looking forward to a great week and trying to defend.
McIlroy has left the clubs alone since winning the Masters on April 13(Image: Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
“Look, today is a pretty important day for me. I need to start hitting some balls again and getting back into it. Once I got back from Ireland on Sunday, then when I woke up Monday morning, I could barely get out of bed; I was feeling that bad.
“I think just to be here and feeling better is an achievement. But I need to put a little bit of practice and a bit of work in today to make sure that I don’t let this man down this week.”
Lowry made his excitement to team up with his buddy once again clear, even if McIlroy might be a little rusty after leaving the clubs alone for a few days.
“Just being Rory’s partner this week, yeah, it is going to be pretty cool,” Lowry said. “Obviously he’s playing great golf. I know he’s not done much practicing the last two weeks, so I am going to have to step up. But I’m sure we’ll be fine. It’s just a cool thing.
“I’ve known Rory for years and we’re good friends, so if I was sitting beside another guy that had just completed the grand slam and I was his partner this week, it might feel a little bit different, but I know him so well that nothing fazes me being around him.”
