Rory McIlroy.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON -- Rory McIlroy has stretched ligaments in his lower back, although it is not expected to affect his play or keep him from the Match Play Championship next week in Arizona.

His agent, Chubby Chandler, says the 20-year-old from Northern Ireland had a back scan on Monday night that revealed nothing more than stretched ligaments. Chandler says it came from 10 days of practice last month to get ready for the season, then playing two tournaments in three weeks.

McIlroy, the seventh-ranked player in the world, was third at Abu Dhabi and tied for sixth last week in Dubai.

Chandler says McIlroy goes through a back scan every year as a precaution. He says McIlroy will rest this week and have therapy on his lower back before going to Arizona.