Rory McIlroy has allayed fears over the rib problem which has disrupted his year by confirming he will be fit to participate in the US Open next week.
McIlroy, who will be in pursuit of a fifth major title at Erin Hills, withdrew from recent events in the United States and Europe because of the injury which has troubled him since the start of 2017. That backdrop meant the questioning of whether or not he would feature in the US Open but McIlroywho has been boosted by recuperation work during a fortnight at the five-star Quinta do Lago resort in Portugal, will return to competitive action on Thursday next week.
This marks a boost to the tournament as well as the Northern Irishman himself, especially after news that Phil Mickelson plans to skip the second major of the year to attend his daughter’s high school graduation.
“I am ready for Erin Hills and looking forward to playing there for the first time,” McIlroy, 28, said. “The last few weeks have obviously been frustrating – I never like to miss events either on the PGA Tour or European Tour – but it was important I got back to a level of fitness where I felt like I could give myself the best possible chance at the US Open.
“As I have said many times before, majors will ultimately determine my golf career but I have had the rest of this busy season to consider as well.
“Every aspect of the facilities at Quinta do Lago has been first class. I can’t thank the people there enough for the way they have looked after me. I have been able to work on fitness and golf without any distractions at all.”
This was McIlroy’s second such visit to the Algarve venue, where first‑class short‑game facilities meant he could attend to that aspect of his play even before hitting full shots this weekend. In 2015, he spent time there after the ankle injury sustained when playing football which caused him to miss the Open. Against all odds, McIlroy was back in action a matter of weeks later at the US PGA Championship.
The US Open, which McIlroy won in 2011, marks the start of a busy spell for the world No2. His charity foundation successfully hosts the Irish Open, which will be held in Portstewart before the Open and US PGA take place. McIlroy is also the defending champion of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup, which finishes after the majors.
Injury has not proven the sole McIlroy story of 2017; he was married in late April and signed an equipment deal with TaylorMade, worth $100m, on the eve of The Players Championship the following month.
Mickelson’s surprise decision – his daughter Amanda will graduate in San Diego on the same day as the US Open’s first round – means he will have to wait at least another year to win the only major to thus far elude him. “We certainly understand and support that Phil’s family commitments are of paramount importance,” the tournament’s executive director, Mike Davis, said.
