The 21-year-old Spieth went from 6-1 to 9-2 and is now the betting favorite.
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McIlroy’s drop was not as dramatic because of uncertainty over the injury. He has nine more days of rehabilitation.
“I didn’t even do anything”, Kuchar said on Tuesday.
They own the top two spots, respectively, in the world rankings, as well as the sport’s last four major titles. So counting the Scottish Open, McIlroy would have likely played eight of the next 12 weeks, including the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Spieth was as shocked by any of the news.
Spieth remains on course to become the first player to win all four majors in a calendar year after winning the first two majors of 2015. In reality, though, if Rory decides to play, he could withdraw after a few holes, or struggle to a missed cut.
No fewer than 15 players have won a major going back to 2010, and in that time no one has been able to successfully defend their crown, be it the British Open, USA Masters, USA Open or PGA Championship.
The injury nearly certainly knocks McIlroy out of next week’s British Open at St. Andrews, and also could keep him out of next month’s PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
Now receiving intensive treatment in a bid to make a miraculous appearance at The Open, McIlroy is to undergo further tests over the next 24 hours before any decision is made about next week.
But McIlroy’s injury comes at one of the worst times with three title defenses approaching.
“But should he be playing football?” He likes to get his mind away from golf. What’s wrong with that?…
Paul McGinley, McIlroy’s captain at last year’s Ryder Cup, heard the news as he visited Wimbledon yesterday and expressed his disappointment at the prospect of McIlroy not featuring at the home of golf. As you know, some of my best friends are leprechauns and they also have tremendous sense of humor.
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, smiles after a birdie on the second hole during the third round of the USA Open golf tournament at Chambers Bay on Saturday, June 20, 2015 in University Place, Wash. The tournament runs through Wednesday.
McIlroy adds that he is “continuing to assess (the) extent of injury”.
The Irish golfer gave no indication how long he would be out in the announcement on his Instagram account, only saying that he is “working hard to get back as soon as I can”. A $100 bet on Spieth would win you $500.
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“It was all set up for a lovely head-to-head with Jordan (Spieth) and all the other guys too”.
