Rory McIlroy faces a battle to save his season after confirming fears that the ankle injury sustained during a football kickabout with friends will prevent him from defending the Open. It is unclear where and when McIlroy will be seen in a competitive context again.
McIlroy ruptured a ligament in his left ankle, an injury dramatically announced via social media on Monday morning. He used the same means on Wednesday to pull out of the Open, which starts at St Andrews next Thursday.
McIlroy posted a picture of his ankle in a protective cast with accompanying text. It read: “After much consideration, I have decided not to play in the Open Championship at St Andrews. 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. Thank you for all your support and best wishes. I hope to be back on the course as soon as I can.”
Given McIlroy’s initial intention was to give himself every opportunity to play in the Open, the obvious inference is that medical scans and prognosis have proved gloomier than hoped. His team are thus far, and wisely, unwilling to place a specific timescale on his recovery.
The “long term” nature of McIlroy’s thinking has to place a doubt over his ability to defend another major, the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in mid-August. That week before that tournament is the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, which McIlroy also won in 2014. For now, his entire golfing year has a question mark above it.
Even when McIlroy’s physical recuperation is complete, he will have to reacquaint himself with matters of basic golfing technicality. Albeit his career has encountered fluctuating fortunes before, it has never been on account of injury.
McIlroy’s Open absence will be a blow to television firms, sponsors and golfing spectators who have been excited by a burgeoning rivalry with Jordan Spieth. The first two majors of 2015 have been claimed by Spieth and the 21-year-old American has now been installed as the overwhelming bookmakers’ favourite to prevail at St Andrews.
The withdrawal of the world No1 was at least welcome for the young Scot Russell Knox, who will be handed McIlroy’s place in the Open field.
McIlroy is the first champion not to defend the Claret Jug since 1954. Then, Ben Hogan simply opted not to return to the Open. Clearly, this was one piece of golfing history McIlroy would rather not have made. His absence at St Andrews will end a run of 26 straight major appearances.
Speaking at Gullane, where he will compete in the Scottish Open, Phil Mickelson defended McIlroy’s decision to take to a football pitch in the first place.
“You can’t live your life in fear, you have to enjoy the moment,” Mickelson said. “I didn’t feel like anything he was doing was unnecessary risk. He was just playing around and accidents happen.
“In 1994, I snapped my finger before the Masters, skiing. People get hurt taking a shower and doing normal day-to-day things. You can’t stop living your life. It is unfortunate that it happened, hopefully he will heal soon and be back at it.”
