McIlroy's agent, Chubby Chandler, told the Associated Press that his client is still a go for next week's WGC-Match Play. McIlroy will rest and receive therapy in advance of his first start as a member of the PGA Tour. Chandler added that the 20-year-old gets an annual exam on his back as a precaution. Clearly, youth cannot overcome overuse, so McIlroy will need to do a better job of moderating practice with competition. This could very well be his greatest challenge as he juggles two tours this year.

"The stories stating Tiger will return at the matchplay have no truth to them," Williams told the Sydney Morning Herald. He didn't elaborate but it may mean nothing. Moreover, acknowledgment of Williams' words as truth assume that he's still employed by the world's #1. Golfers have until 5:00 p.m. ET this Friday to commit to the Match Play. That will provide the definitive evidence of Woods' decision.

"My back has been bothering me for a few days now so that's why I am going for scan," McIlroy said. "... I've had the problem for a while, and it's just whenever I undertake a lot of practice. I've been out in the Middle-East for four weeks so I think it's just a repetitive injury and comes from hitting a lot of balls, and it just niggles a little bit." He is planning to begin his U.S.-based schedule at next week's WGC-Match Play. "I can still swing the club OK, but bending down and doing things like putting and picking the ball out of the cup hurts. The scan is precautionary and I get one every year and I will be fine for the Match Play. I just need to give it some rest."

Stricker started with a six-stroke advantage, but the lead evaporated to two-strokes after the first five holes. He continued to cling to a two-stroke lead going into the eighth hole, where he was able to string constitutive birdies to go 1-under-par for the opening nine with a four-stroke lead. On the bank nine, Luke Donald had a number of birdie opportunities, but he could only chip into the lead with birdies at the 13th and 17th hole. The final hole saw both players reach the green in regulation, then two-putt for pars, which was good for a two-stroke victory for Stricker. The victory is the eighth career PGA Tour championship for Stricker and he now has passed Phil Mickelson for the number two spot in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Jimenez birdied the 17th hole of his final round and then watched as Lee Westwood birdied the final hole to force a two-man playoff. Westwood had a chance to win on the first playoff hole, but his nine-foot birdie putt slid by the hole. Jimenez continued the playoff after a clutch 18-foot par putt on the second playoff hole and then sealed the championship on the next hole with a five-foot par putt. The victory is the ninth for Jimenez since he turned 40 years old and he has become the oldest player to win on the European Tour since Mark O'Meara won in Dubai in 2004 . It is also notable that 60-year-old Tom Watson finished with a round of 4-under-par 68, earning a very respectable tie for eighth place.

The suspended third round resumed on Sunday morning with Steve Stricker dropping a 37-foot birdie bomb at the 15th hole to pull six shots clear of he field. A laser like tee shot at the par-3 16th resulted in a four-foot birdie to widen the lead out to seven strokes, however he stumbled at the final hole with a bogey after finding the left rough off the tee. The field will be re-paired after a second cut with the completion the third round and play will soon resume.

Stricker started the round a stroke off the lead, but on the 3rd hole Dustin Johnson gave up the lead after an errant drive caused a double-bogey. The lead continued to expand for Stricker as he played very steady golf and Johnson continued to fall down the leader board. Striker at the turn was 3-under-par on the round, with a five-stroke lead, which reached six-strokes after he birdied to open the back nine. Moments later Johnson was able to cut the lead back down to five, but that is as close as anyone would get to Stricker for the rest of the day. The third round was suspended due to darkness and will resume at 7 am on Sunday morning. The final round will start when the field is re-paired due to a second cut after the third round. On Sunday, Sticker will be looking for his eighth career PGA Tour title and his first since last year's Deutsche Bank Championship.