World No 1 Rory McIlroy is out of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and probably the Open Championship itself next week after rupturing ankle ligaments in a football kickabout with friends at the weekend.
The reigning Open champion was favourite to retain the Claret Jug in the 144th Open at the Old Course in St Andrews but revealed his injury in a picture on Instagram this morning.
Showing himself in crutches wearing a retaining boot, McIlroy added the message that he sustained a “total rupture of left ATFL (ankle ligament) and associated joint capsule damage in a soccer kickabout with friends on Saturday.
“Continuing to assess extent of injury and treatment plan day by day. Rehab already started…working hard to get back as soon as I can.”
While he did not immediately confirm that he’s withdrawn from either the Scottish Open at Gullane this week or the Open next week, it seems impossible that a complete rupture of an ankle ligament will heal in time for him to play at St Andrews.
McIlroy was due to return to action for the first time since the US Open at Gullane this week in his final warm-up for St Andrews, where he is a co-holder of the course record and has the lowest round in the Open there, a 63 in the first round in 2010.
He won the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool last year, one of four major titles the Northern Irishman has secured in his short career.
See, I keep telling you that soccer is a force for evil but no-one believes me.
— Steve Scott (@C_SScott) July 6, 2015
The news will be a huge blow to Open chiefs and golf fans in general, as the prospect of McIlroy going head-to-head with double 2015 major winner Jordan Spieth was one of the most keenly-anticipated showdowns in decades.