The back issues that nearly forced Rory McIlroy to withdraw from the BMW South African Open over the weekend have ultimately been diagnosed as a rib injury that will force the four-time major champion to miss this week's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
McIlroy, 27, ranked second in the world, lost in a playoff Sunday to Graeme Storm but then said he would be undergoing an MRI in Dubai on Monday to determine the source of pain that had him considering pulling out of the tournament on Friday. He stayed on with medication and his back taped and managed weekend rounds of 67 and 68 to force a playoff.