World number seven Rory McIlroy will visit a Belfast-based specialist on Monday to discover the extent of a back problem ahead of a maiden season on the US PGA Tour.
The 20-year-old has developed the problem after enduring a gruelling practice schedule at the start of the new campaign which has often involved eight-hour sessions. He was still able to maintain his recent run of top-10 finishes with sixth place at last week's Dubai Desert Classic, which pushed the Holywood ace to a career-high world ranking.
"My back has been bothering me for a few days now so that's why I am going for scan," he said. "I'm strapped pretty good. I've had the problem for a while, and it's just whenever I undertake a lot of practice."
He added: "I've been out in the Middle-East for four weeks so I think it's just a repetitive injury and comes from hitting a lot of balls, and it just niggles a little bit."
McIlroy, who also finished third in his first appearance of the season in Abu Dhabi, has taken out a US PGA Tour card for the first time this season and is set to feature at the WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona next week.
But before that he will meet the Belfast-based specialist and also undergo a scan in Leeds after travelling back from Dubai with his parents Gerry and Rosie and South African-born physio Cornell Driesson.
After the Match Play McIlroy is set to play the Honda Classic, WGC - CA Championship at Doral, Arnold Palmer Invitational ay Bay Hill and Shell Houston Open before April's Masters at Augusta.
"It's just a build-up and it's been at me for a while, and the more the week progressed the more it troubled me," he added.
"I can still swing the club OK, but bending down and doing things like putting and picking the ball out of the cup hurts.
"The scan is precautionary and I get one every year and I will be fine for the Match Play. I just need to give it some rest."
08 February, 2010