‘Madness’of Rory’s massive itinerary must end

ONE of the first aspects on the agenda of Horizon Sports Conor Ridge in managing the affairs of Rory McIlroy has been to curb the ‘madness’ of his client’s heavy end-of-season schedule.

McIlroy disclosed soon after dropping two shots over his closing three holes on day two of the UBS Hong Kong Open that he spent four days in hospital after contracting an illness while competing last month in China.

The US Open champion carded a one under par 69 in Hong Kong to head the weekend rounds tied at seven under par with Spain’s Alvaro Quiros who signed for a similar score on the suburban Fanling course.

McIlroy was into the first week of a fortnight’s break in the Maldives when he entered hospital a hospital complaining of poor energy levels.

He spent three days on an intravenous drip after doctors diagnosed poor blood levels, and he spent a further day in a Dubai hospital a week later.

McIlroy returns to Dubai next week with Ridge confirming that his client may consider withdrawing from the Thailand Golf Championship in mid December..

“I’ve got to try and win this tournament to give myself a chance going into Dubai next week, and then take it easy for the first few days of next week in Dubai,” said McIlroy.

“But I got sick for a few days in between the HSBC Champions and the World Cup and spent three days on a drip in the Maldives which wasn’t too nice.

Ridge admitted: “At this stage he will still travel to Bangkok but if the doctors advise otherwise then he won’t compete. I’ve informed organisers of the event the situation but I feel he should be okay. But you can see that he is ready for a long break.

”He’s played something like 25 events this year but then in recent months Rory’s played the Grand Slam of Golf, those four events in China including the China Golf Challenge and then he was Yokohama on Monday for the earthquake and tsunami fundraiser with Ryo Ishikawa.

“It’s just madness to be playing so much golf but then when we looked at his schedule for next year, it’s hard to cut back tournaments. Rory will still be a global player but his schedule will also focus on taking good breaks.”

Meanwhile Pádraig Harrington is remaining in Hong Kong, Michael Hoey is heading to Disney World, Damien McGrane has returned home while Gareth Maybin is now the proud owner of a new wrist watch after an ace on day two of the UBS Hong Kong Open.

Harrington could breathe a slight sigh of relief in making the Hong Kong Open cut after carding a one over par 71 for a one over par tally and a distant share of 39th place which keeps him in contention for next week’s season-ending Dubai World Championship.

Hoey never recovered after an opening round 78 and was out of the tournament after a second round 71 that included a 12th hole eagle for a disappointing nine over par tally. And rather than venture to Dubai early, Hoey’s wife, Bev managed to talk her husband into visiting Disney World Hong Kong over the weekend.

Maybin, lying 120th on the Race to Dubai, kept his hopes of finishing inside the top-115 with a hole-in-one to earn a €17,000 Omega Seamaster wrist watch. He posted a 73 for a share of 21st place and looking to finish inside the top-15 to be exempt for 2012.