MCILROY PICKS UP TOE INJURY AHEAD OF PGA AS PAIRINGS ISSUED
Rory McIlroy was forced to cut short practice on Tuesday after a toe injury (Photo: PGA Tour)
Masters champion Rory McIlroy has suffered a late injury scare before the year’s second major, while compatriots Tom McKibbin, Shane Lowry and Pádraig Harrington learn their opening-round partners at Aronimink.
McIlroy’s build-up to the PGA Championship has been hit by a fresh injury concern after he was forced to cut short his practice round at Aronimink because of a painful blister on the little toe of his right foot. The Northern Irishman completed only three holes on Tuesday before taking off his shoe and heading back to the clubhouse, prompting immediate concern ahead of Thursday’s opening round.
McIlroy had already sounded a note of reassurance after last week’s Truist Championship, saying: “I’ve got a blister on my pinky toe on my right foot, but it’s underneath my nail. I can’t really get to it, so it’s a little sore. But I’ll be all right.” He is still expected to tee it up, though the issue adds unwelcome doubt for one of the pre-tournament favourites. Either that or adopt the line “beware the injured golfer”.
McIlroy was limping during the short session and removed his shoe more than once before calling it a day. He later revealed how far he had gone to try to solve the problem, saying: “I ended up ripping the toenail off last night just because it was bothering me so much, so it’s fine.”
There were also reports that he was trying different shoes as his team searched for a way to reduce the irritation. McIlroy and his team will hope a day of rest can prevent a minor issue from becoming a major distraction.
Despite the setback, McIlroy remains in one of the headline groups for the opening round. He is scheduled to start at 1.40pm (Irish time from the 10th) alongside Spain’s Jon Rahm and American Jordan Spieth. Earlier in the week, McIlroy said of Aronimink: “Strategy off the tee is pretty non-existent. It’s basically bash driver down there and then figure it out from there.”
The grouping guarantees added attention from the outset, with Spieth chasing the career Grand Slam and Rahm looking to reassert himself on the major stage. McIlroy is a two-time PGA champion (2012 and 2014. The immediate question is whether his toe will allow him to walk freely enough to give himself a fair chance over four days.
Elsewhere, Lowry has been drawn with Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland in another high-profile group at (6.32 Irish time from the first). McKibbin is paired with Lucas Glover and Stephan Jaeger (12.40pm Irish time from the first), while Harrington, the 2008 champion, will play alongside Thomas Detry and Maverick McNealy (1.24pm Irish time from the first). The Dubliner described Aronimink as “a good old-fashioned test”.
Ireland has a strong hand in the second Major of the year but the preamble in the early part of the week has focused on McIlroy’s fitness and his pursuit of another Major to add to the six he now has after donning the famous Green Jacket at Augusta last month.