RORY McIlroy has this morning confirmed he will defend his title at the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.
After some confusion last week about the health of the ligament in his left ankle that he ruptured playing soccer on July 4, the 26-year-old (still) world No. 1 traveled from his native Ireland to play Saturday and Sunday practice rounds at the Pete Dye masterpiece.
McIlroy didn’t limp and actually ran up a couple of hills. He also told Golf Channel he had played a 72-hole “test” at home prior to coming stateside.
McIlroy played his third consecutive day of golf at Whistling Straits on Monday and declared himself fit to defend his title.
“To play golf, it’s 100 per cent,” McIlroy said. “To go back on a soccer pitch, it wouldn’t be quite ready. But to do what I need to do this week, it’s 100 per cent.”
Still, McIlroy hasn’t played a competitive round since the US Open, where he finished T9 after a closing 66, and he will be under intense scrutiny paired for the first two rounds with Jordan Spieth, who will be seeking his third major of the year and looking to take over McIlroy’s top spot.
On the other hand, McIlroy has good memories of Whistling Straits, where in 2010 he made his first serious run at a Major. McIlroy bogeyed the 69th hole and missed a 15-footer for birdie on the last to fall a stroke short of a playoff, tying for third with his other PGA playing partner this week, British Open champion Zach Johnson.
—Jaime Diaz (@JaimeDiaz24)
