McIlroy reassures fans ahead of PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy expressed he was “pleasantly surprised” by the condition of his injured foot on Wednesday, easing concerns regarding a potential withdrawal from the PGA Championship, reports BritPanorama.
The 37-year-old golfer had raised alarms earlier in the week after he had to cut short a practice round at Aronimink Golf Club, only completing three holes before leaving in a golf cart.
McIlroy had been struggling with a painful blister beneath the toenail on his right little toe, a condition that led him to fear he might not be able to finish the remaining holes. “Because I didn’t think I could walk the next six,” he stated regarding his decision to abandon his round.
The injury, which first flared up during the previous week’s Truist Championship at Quail Hollow, saw McIlroy limping during the final round. In a bid to alleviate the discomfort, he removed the toenail and burst the blister before the championship. This intervention provided some relief, but the toe remained swollen and bruised. “Popping the blister relieved the pressure but it was swollen and bruised, so it’s just sore,” McIlroy explained.
After experiencing the previous day’s setback, he made various adjustments to his footwear, including using additional padding and switching to a wider shoe that is half a size larger than usual. “I figured it out and separated the little toe from the other ones and a bit of cushion around it definitely helped,” he said.
By completing nine holes of practice on Wednesday, McIlroy found encouragement in his performance, stating, “I was pleasantly surprised how good it felt.” Despite some lingering discomfort, he noted, “Walking downhill, whenever your foot slides into the very end of your shoe is when it maybe gives me a bit of bother, but it’s totally fine. A mountain out of a molehill.”
The positive update suggests that McIlroy is set to participate in Thursday’s opening round, aiming for his third PGA Championship title, having previously won in 2012 and 2014. He will tee off at 8.40 am local time alongside notable competitors Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm.
