McIlroy learns from Honda crash

As Tiger Woods did no more than chip and putt his way around the new Blue Monster layout yesterday to keep the pressure off his ailing back, Rory McIlroy assessed the pain of his Honda Classic collapse and the steps he’s taken to avoid serious injury in the future.

Speaking ahead of the WGC-Cadillac Championship at the revamped Trump National Doral, the Holywood star explained that apart from serious gym work to strengthen his once weak lower back, he’s banned himself from playing football with his pals.

Revealing how he’d secretly sprained his ankle playing football in Holywood on December 23, he said: “I was off my ankle for about a week over New Year’s. But apart from that, I feel healthy, again, touch wood.