McIlroy recieves fitness boost

Rory McIlroy’s back problem is just a slight nerve impingement and will not prevent him taking part in next week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.

The 20-year-old Northern Irishman saw a specialist on his return from Dubai, where he finished sixth on Sunday in defence of his Desert Classic title.

McIlroy has been working with South African physio Cornell Driesson to try to manage the discomfort he feels occasionally.

“He just needs to rest for a day,” said management spokesman Martin Hardy.

Now world number seven – three places ahead of fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington – McIlroy has been told the problem could be linked to the hip movement in his swing.

“They go backwards and then forwards and that puts a little strain on the lower back,” he said.

“I do all the exercises I can to make everything stronger around the joints and it is a matter of resting and managing my schedule so that I am not playing too many weeks in a row.”

McIlroy has taken up US Tour membership this season and next week is the first of five events there before The Masters in April.