Rory McIlroy has suggested that he may not play again until next year due to a persistent back injury.
The 28-year-old has been struggling with the problem since January despite taking time out in an attempt to recover, but is now contemplating a more lengthy recuperation break.
"Right now I can feel my left rhomboid going into spasm," McIlroy told The Guardian after finishing one-over at the US PGA today.
"It's sort of the way it has been for the last few weeks. I have upped my practise coming into these events because I wanted to feel like I was in a good place in my game.
"But right now it's a tough one because I go out there and play and shoot decent scores, but when I come off the course, I feel my left rhomboid going into spasm. The inside of my left arm goes numb.
"I have got this next week off to assess what I need to go forward. I don't know what I'm going to do. You might not see my until next year. You might see me in a couple of weeks' time. It really depends."
McIlroy added that he will return to Belfast this week for further medical assessment before making his decision.
Neil Wilkes
