Sports

McIlroy quitting an inconvenient tooth

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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Rory McIlroy is 23 years old and ranked No. 1 in the world, yet yesterday he played like a 23 handicap and acted like a rank amateur.

Mired in a forgettable stretch of golf in the second round of the Honda Classic, which McIlroy won a year ago to elevate himself to No. 1, he quit like a petulant child — took his clubs and went home.

McIlroy didn’t just quit in the middle of his round but in the middle of a hole, storming off the 18th fairway (his ninth hole of the day) and marching straight to his car after hitting his second shot into a lake — the fourth ball of the round he rinsed with a wayward shot.

It was a stunning display of immaturity from a player who had — to date — always displayed maturity, poise and grace that belied his youth in the heavily scrutinized world stage where he makes his living.

McIlroy was 7-over through his first eight holes and well on his way to missing the cut when that second shot on 18 found the water. That, as it turned out, was all he could take.

“He just came up to me and said, ‘Here’s my card. I’m out of here,’ ’’ Ernie Els, one of McIlroy’s playing partners, said.

For any professional athlete to quit like that is pathetic, but for a player of McIlroy’s lofty stature to do it is inexcusable. And, making the matter even more embarrassing was the clumsy way in which it was handled after McIlroy bolted.

When chased down by reporters in the parking lot, McIlroy said there was nothing physically wrong with him and added, “There’s really not much I can say, guys. I’m not in a good place mentally, you know?’’

Curiously, less than an hour after he left the grounds, McIlroy’s representatives released a statement stating he withdrew because of “wisdom tooth pain’’ that “affected’’ his concentration.

The lame excuse was rich with irony, because if there was anything McIlroy could have used more of before he made his ill-advised exit it was some wisdom.

If you believe McIlroy quit because of a dental problem then you believe a fire hydrant jumped out in front of Tiger Woods’ SUV like a stray cat on the fateful November night in 2009 that forever changed his life.

“I’m a great fan of Rory’s, but I don’t think that’s the right thzing to do,’’ Els said.

“I didn’t notice anything wrong with him,’’ Mark Wilson, McIlroy’s other playing partner, said. “He wasn’t playing the way the world No. 1 plays normally. He was upset with his golf and I guess he had enough for the week.’’

McIlroy will learn — if he hasn’t already after a night’s sleep — that professional athletes do not simply reach a point where they have “had enough’’ and quit.

LeBron James doesn’t take his basketball and go home at halftime because he’s having a horrible shooting night. Tom Brady doesn’t take his football and go home in the middle of the third quarter because he can’t complete a pass.

All McIlroy did to himself with his hissy fit was intensify the scrutiny on his struggling game in the wake of the celebrated equipment change he made to Nike, which is paying him a reported $10 million to $15 million a year.

McIlroy is a mess right now, having played only four-and-a-half rounds of tournament golf while swinging the new Swoosh sticks and his confidence is at an all-time low.

Fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell said he sensed something awry with his friend while they warmed up on the practice range next to each other yesterday morning.

“I felt like he was a little off with his golf swing,’’ McDowell said. “There were a few moans and groans coming from the bay next to me and that’s not like him. To me, it’s a sign of a guy who’s lacking a tiny bit of belief in his game.’’

Worse, McIlroy lacked more than a tiny bit of maturity yesterday. At the end of the day, that is more damning

than a hitting few errant golf shots.

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com