Young Northern Ireland golf star Rory McIlroy withdrew from the Sun City Challenge before the third round began Saturday because of a stomach ailment.
McIlroy, ranked 10 in the world at the age of 20, has been unwell since the tournament began two days ago and rounds of 73 and 76 on the par-72 Gary Player Country Club left him 12 shots off the pace.
Considered by many golf pundits as a potential successor to American world number one Tiger Woods, the Irishman picked up a bug while representing his country at the World Cup in China last week.
South African Retief Goosen entered the penultimate round of the 12-man invitational tournament with a one-stroke advantage over Robert Allenby of Australia, Angel Cabrera of Argentina and Henrik Stenson of Sweden.
Copyright 2009 AFP Global Edition
