Schwartzel shares Rory’s pain

MASTERS champion Charl Schwartzel has sympathised with Rory McIlroy in the decision of the US Open champion not to contest this week’s Thailand Golf Championship in Bangkok.

McIlroy is recuperating this week in Dubai after being diagnosed with possible dengue fever and a low white blood cell count.

He had been advised by a Dubai doctor not to travel to the Thai capital where, on the first day of the final Asian Tour event of the year, Lee Westwood produced the lowest score of his career, a 12-under par 60.