McIlroy gets all clear after fainting fits

Holywood hero Rory McIlroy has been given a full bill of health by doctors after a fainting scare.

The Ulster ace, 19, has the golf world swooning after scorching to 15th in the world following his Dubai Desert Classic win.

But he revealed this week that he has been suffering from fainting fits and is under doctor’s orders to increase his salt intake.

Gerry McIlroy congratulates his son Rory in Dubai. Doctors have ordered the youngster to take more salt.McIlroy said: “On Monday I flew over to Leeds and got a blood test and a heart test done as I have the odd faint on occasion but it was just a lack of salt so I need to up my intake a little.

“I also had an MRI scan done on my back to make sure everything is in good shape, and it is, so that was good too.”

McIlroy felt light-headed as he worked out at the gym and passed out for a few seconds.

According to his father, Gerry, he never takes salt with his food but has been told he can correct the imbalance by taking a specially prepared drink on a daily basis.

His manager Chubby Chandler advised him to have a full health check before he heads out to the US next week.

And McIlroy was delighted that an MRI scan revealed that his back is in perfect shape after suffering an injury just a month before the 2007 Walker Cup at Royal County Down.

The flexible Ulster star has been working hard on his fitness and while his “core strength” is only at around 60 percent right now, he can increase his driving distance by up to 15 yards if he gets stronger in that area.

Hailed by Mark O'Meara as a better striker than Tiger Woods at the same age, McIlroy has also been busy trying to arrange an Augusta practice round with Woods and 1998 Masters champion.

He revealed: “Mark O'Meara and myself have been swapping a few text messages to try and sort out our three-ball.

“It would certainly be amazing to play a practice round with those two because I think they've won six Masters titles between them so I hope it comes off.”

Woods and O'Meara have actually won five Masters titles between them with the world No 1 expected to challenge for his fifth green jacket in April.

McIlroy, meanwhile, will head to the US next week to check his swing at the Titleist Performance Institute in San Diego and play golf with Scotty Cameron before travelling on to Tucson for his first appearance in the WGC - Accenture Match Play at Dove Mountain.

He said: “I'm really enjoying life at the moment and everything's going well and I can't wait for my trip to the States and I hope to put in a few good performances there and try to make my way up those world rankings again.”