The Boy Wonder Needs an Oral Surgeon, Pronto

[mr. synellinden]

And a more consistent story.

So Rory McIlroy quit the Honda Classic today midway through the 18th hole (which was his 9th, having teed off on the 10th. At that point he was seven over par and had hit three balls in the water.

At first, he told reporters that he just didn't have it mentally. A short time later, someone from his management firm said he wasn't hurt nor sick. But then, McIlroy claimed he had a sore wisdom tooth (not making this up) that made it too painful for him to play. Now, this is important because the PGA has a rule that you cannot just withdraw from a tournament without a clear physical ailment. It's not clear yet whether a toothache satisfies that requirement.

This has not been a good start to the season for Nike's newest multi-million dollar poster for swooshes. Missed the cut with a pair of 75s in his first tourney, lost in the first round of the Match Play Championship, and now this. The bad play is something that can be fixed - this happened to him last year too, and then he came back and dominated the PGA Championship. But the appearance of quitting when you don't like how your day is going, combined with the apparent spinning of the reason for his WD, could be a stain that lingers for a while. As in most other situations, winning again will probably be the only complete fix.

[A-Tex Devil]

And a more consistent story.

So Rory McIlroy quit the Honda Classic today midway through the 18th hole (which was his 9th, having teed off on the 10th. At that point he was seven over par and had hit three balls in the water.

At first, he told reporters that he just didn't have it mentally. A short time later, someone from his management firm said he wasn't hurt nor sick. But then, McIlroy claimed he had a sore wisdom tooth (not making this up) that made it too painful for him to play. Now, this is important because the PGA has a rule that you cannot just withdraw from a tournament without a clear physical ailment. It's not clear yet whether a toothache satisfies that requirement.

This has not been a good start to the season for Nike's newest multi-million dollar poster for swooshes. Missed the cut with a pair of 75s in his first tourney, lost in the first round of the Match Play Championship, and now this. The bad play is something that can be fixed - this happened to him last year too, and then he came back and dominated the PGA Championship. But the appearance of quitting when you don't like how your day is going, combined with the apparent spinning of the reason for his WD, could be a stain that lingers for a while. As in most other situations, winning again will probably be the only complete fix.

Wozniak-ed?

[mr. synellinden]

Wozniak-ed?

That will certainly be part of the speculation. You only have to look at his twitter picture to add some fuel to that fire.

If I were advising him, I'd tell him to stop tweeting. It makes him look terrible. "Gutted"?

[roywhite]

And a more consistent story.

So Rory McIlroy quit the Honda Classic today midway through the 18th hole (which was his 9th, having teed off on the 10th. At that point he was seven over par and had hit three balls in the water.

At first, he told reporters that he just didn't have it mentally. A short time later, someone from his management firm said he wasn't hurt nor sick. But then, McIlroy claimed he had a sore wisdom tooth (not making this up) that made it too painful for him to play. Now, this is important because the PGA has a rule that you cannot just withdraw from a tournament without a clear physical ailment. It's not clear yet whether a toothache satisfies that requirement.

Or he just didn't have it dentally?