Rory Mcllroy cleared to play WGC Match Play

Rory Mcllroy has been cleared to play in next week's WGC Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona after an exploratory examination with a Belfast-based specialist showed his injuries to be nothing worse than a 'slight impingement in his lower back'.

The 20-year old had developed the problem following a series of strenuous practice sessions in anticipation of his debut season on the PGA Tour.

It had been feared that the Ulsterman may miss the tournament in which he left such an impression last year, defeating Louis Oosthuizen, Hunter Mahan and Tim Clark before succumbing to eventual winner Geoff Ogilvy in the quarter finals.

The world number seven has featured in the top ten in eight of his last nine starts on the European Tour, including a very credible tie for sixth place at the Dubai Desert Classic, where he took home his maiden professional title in 2009.

Mcllroy will fly to Tucson at the weekend, where he will be considered one of the favourites for WGC Accenture Match Play in the absence of the world's number one, Tiger Woods.

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