No, it wasn’t Tiger Woods playing another 18 holes on one leg to win a major. But Rory McIlroy did have a health concern of his own in his most recent tournament, making it the rare instance in golf where a player has to fight through pain to compete in his sport.
McIlroy was reportedly dealing with sunstroke Friday during the second round of the DP World Tour Championship when he shot a 5-under 67. He is now in a three-way tie for the lead going into the weekend.
“I had a bit of a sore head last night,” he said Friday.
McIlroy said he thought the change in location — he was playing in the Dubai desert — may have had something to do with him suddenly feeling flush.
“I guess it’s just us Irish and the skin not used to this sort of sun,” he said. “I didn’t feel great last night but was much better this morning and felt almost 100 percent out there on the course.”
It looks like no one has to worry about McIlroy being a fair-weather golfer.
