Rory McIlroy Illness: Updates on Golf Star's Recovery from Food Poisoning

World No. 3 Rory McIlroy has been struck down with a bout of food poisoning ahead of the start of the WGC–HSBC Champions in Shanghai on Thursday.

Continue for updates.

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McIlroy Hopeful of Quick Recovery 

Wednesday, Nov. 4

Per Sky Sports, McIlroy missed a promotional engagement on Tuesday and withdrew from Wednesday's pre-tournament pro-am, but he is hopeful of teeing up on Thursday:

"

I'm not feeling great to be honest. I had something (to eat) a couple of nights ago and yesterday wasn't good at all. I thought I would be better this morning, but I had a piece of toast and a couple of bits of melon for breakfast and I came here and tried to hit some balls, but even just making a couple of swings my stomach was too sore. I just need another day of rest and hopefully I will be better tomorrow and I can play. I was up from about 1am to 4am last night. The night before it didn't start until about 4am, so it hasn't been great.

"

He is scheduled to start his opening round at the Sheshan International Golf Club at 2:45 a.m. GMT, playing alongside American pair Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler. 

McIlroy would have hoped to be better prepared going into the second of the Final Series events on the European Tour.

But he has played the course several times before in previous years and thus will not be going in blind should he recover in time to play. 

Per Sky Sports, the 26-year-old is still hoping to make a run at victory in China having never finished lower than sixth in four appearances at the course.

McIlroy currently leads the Race to Dubai standings and showed some decent form in finishing tied-sixth at the Turkish Airlines Open last week.

He has already endured fitness problems this season following the summer ankle injury that ruled him out of the Open Championship in July.