Uncertainty for McIlroy and Spieth in Shanghai

GOLF: Star pair head into the final World Championship event lacking preparation

Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are both likely to be far from their best as they contest the final World Golf Championship event of the year in Shanghai this week.

World No 2 Spieth did not touch a club for two weeks after helping the United States retain the Presidents Cup last month, while McIlroy is a doubt to even play the HSBC Champions at Sheshan International after suffering from a severe bout of food poisoning.

On Tuesday, McIlroy tweeted a picture of part of a menu showing a club sandwich and Japanese baked eel, along with the words: “Who would have thought the eel would be the safer bet!? Hopefully I’ll feel better tomorrow.”

That hope proved in vain as the world No 3 was forced to withdraw from the pre-tournament pro-am, telling reporters: “It wasn’t good at all.

“I just had a piece of toast and a couple of bits of melon for breakfast and I came out here thinking that I would just try to hit a few more balls, but after making a couple of swings my stomach was too sore even to attempt another shot.

“I was thinking of going out to play nine holes but I decided that it would do me more harm than good.”

McIlroy has been prescribed medication by the on-site doctor and hopes to be able to tee off alongside Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson as he looks to increase his lead in the Race to Dubai.

The 26-year-old is almost 400,000 points ahead of England’s Danny Willett, despite sharing sixth place in Turkey last week after starting the final round just a shot off the lead.

“I’ve done well here every time I have played here,” said the four-time major winner, who has not finished outside the top six in four appearances and is a combined 52 under par. “I’ve not won it, but I’ve been close.

“Hopefully if I can get through the first couple of days and play OK, I’ll be feeling a lot better at the weekend and I can make a run at it.”

Spieth can replace the absent Jason Day as world No 1 with a top-10 finish, but the Masters, US Open and FedEx Cup champion expects to be rusty after his longest lay-off for 10 years.

The 22-year-old told a press conference: “I am aware that it’s going to be a little tougher than normal given I took off a lot of time in the last few weeks. I didn’t touch my clubs for two weeks, which is the longest time by a week that I’ve taken off since I was probably 12 or 13 years old.”

Spieth will partner Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and defending champion Bubba Watson in the first two rounds.

Jordan Spieth gives his game the thumbs-up after returning for yesterday’s pro-am after a two-week layoff. Picture: Getty Images.