LONDON – Rory McIlroy will not defend his British Open title at St Andrews next week after announcing on Wednesday he did not want to risk further damage to the ankle ligaments he ruptured playing football last weekend. “I’m taking a long term view of this injury and, although rehab is progressing well, I want to come back to tournament play when I feel 100% healthy and 100% competitive”, McIlroy wrote.
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His misfortune was 30-year-old Scot Russell Knox’s good fortune as he replaced him in the field for what will be his first Open.
McIlroy powers his shots with his downswing, creating force by pushing with his left foot as he rotates on his ankle.
The world number one’s presence at the spiritual home of golf had looked extremely doubtful after he suffered the injury in a kickabout with friends and posted a picture of himself wearing a protective plastic boot and his withdrawal was duly confirmed on his Instagram account.
The Ulsterman is yet to provide a loose timetable for his recovery from the injury, while speculative doctors have suggested a range of a couple of weeks to several months.
The 21-year-old American, playing at this week’s US PGA John Deere Classic, would become the first player since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win the United States and British Opens and the Masters in the same year if he can add the Claret Jug to his collection of major prizes next week at St Andrews.
The 26-year-old Northern Irishman had revealed the extent of the injury on his Twitter and Instagram accounts on Monday.
It’s official Rory McIlroy will not be playing in the Open championships next week.
“It was looking to be a really exciting Open for all involved”.
Given the strength of the field for The Open and the very few players who’ve accomplished what Spieth now pursues, I’m thinking that with or without Rory McIlroy in contention, Jordan Spieth is climbing up-hill. I didn’t think at the beginning of the year I would have a chance to get there this year and there certainly is an opportunity now. Everybody does. It’s unlucky, it’s unfortunate and I’m sure he’s taking it harder on himself than anybody else. “It just was an unfortunate situation and hopefully he rebounds quickly and gets back right to where he was”.
“Everyone is gutted for Rory”, Knox said after his pro-am round at the Scottish Open. “I’m of the impression that you have to live, you can’t be too cautious”.
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Golfers preparing for the Scottish Open at Gullane were quick to come to his defence earlier on Wednesday. Sometimes there’s accidents that happen.
