Rory McIlroy battling health scare and Alvaro Quiros who equals course record to lead Dubai World Championship

The US Open champion, who fell back at the Dubai World Championship on Friday to trail Spain’s Álvaro Quirós by five shots, has received a set of blood test results that indicate he may have caught the serious mosquito-borne disease during his extensive recent travels

The 22 year-old, battling world No 1 Luke Donald for the European order of merit title, is due to see a doctor here in Dubai on Saturday morning to determine whether he is well enough to compete at next week’s Thailand Golf Championship in Bangkok.

“They said it could have been dengue fever,” said McIlroy, whose tests reflected a low platelet and white blood cell count.

Appearing a touch wan at the close of his one-under-par 71, he claimed: “I think it’s just the lasting effects of that. My immune system is a little low.

It’s taking my body a bit more time to recover than it usually would.”

During a holiday in the Maldives last month with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, McIlroy fell ill and had to spend three days on a drip.

Dengue fever, fatal in the most severe cases, typically involves a rash and a high temperature for around 72 hours. “They give you medication at the time, but since then it just been a case of trying to keep hydrated,” McIlroy said.
“I have a few rehydration packs if I have a fever and temperature again.”

While McIlroy is pursuing Donald at the top of the money list with all his strength, he remains equally eager to recuperate at the end of a gruelling, if highly successful year.

After almost 11 weeks on the road, next week’s scheduled engagement in Thailand represents one trip he could comfortably do without.

“To be honest, I’m ready for the season to be done. I’m looking forward to putting the clubs away and taking a bit of a break.”

To erase his deficit of £680,000 to Donald in the earnings table, McIlroy must win in Dubai and hope that his rival finishes lower than ninth.

But that prospect receded after three dropped shots on the back nine in his second round left him five adrift of Spain’s Álvaro Quirós, who fired a stunning 64 to lead by four.

It was not the storyline that McIlroy might have envisaged when a third birdie in 11 holes lifted him, fleetingly, into a share of the lead at nine under par.

But the Ulsterman floundered down the closing stretch, fluffing a chip from the edge of the 17th green and finding water with his tee-shot at the last.

McIlroy, who ended tied for third with England’s Robert Rock at seven under, said: “I have got a bit of an uphill battle on my hands to try to win the tournament. But it’s still very possible.

"I’m only five shots back with 36 holes to go and you can easily make that up.”

Quirós, though, appeared to have no inclination of relinquishing his advantage, pointing out that there were other plot-lines simmering here besides McIlroy’s tussle with Donald to win the Race to Dubai.

“Rory and Luke are not the only two players in the tournament,” he said, having sunk a 20-foot eagle putt at the 18th. He added, mischievously: “We are playing here to try to ruin the party, and this is good.”

The threat from Quirós is formidable, given that he has recorded one victory in the Middle East already this season, at the Dubai Desert Classic.

McIlroy is growing increasingly familiar with this powerful hitter from Cádiz, having overhauled his lead to win last week’s Hong Kong Open.

But Quirós was impressively consistent on Friday, reaching the turn in 33 courtesy of birdies at the second, fourth and eighth and gaining a further three before he arrived at the 18th. There, he seized on the fact that the tee box had been moved forward 95 yards to set up the *coup de grace* of an eagle.

Donald remained in contention after finishing his round of 68 on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates with three straight birdies.

“I know what’s at stake and I have got to handle it,” he said. “It was nice to finish off with a flurry and to find a little bit of touch on the greens. That will be key for the next couple of days.”