Rory McIlroy will be in action at Aronimink this week for the PGA Championship, despite battling an unconventional injury. The 37-year-old golf legend has been a mainstay in major tournaments for nearly two decades, missing only one major in that span due to a bizarre ankle injury in 2015. That incident prompted a defiant response from the Northern Irishman, who refused to change his off-course activities.
McIlroy's History of Resilience
McIlroy has been a constant presence at majors since his debut at The Open in 2007. The two-time Masters winner has only ever missed one of golf's premium events in a career spanning almost 20 years, which occurred 11 years ago. Now, as he prepares for the PGA Championship, a blister on his toe caused him to cut short a practice round at Aronimink on Tuesday. Despite the worry, McIlroy has insisted he can play on.
The 2015 Ankle Injury
In 2015, McIlroy nearly broke his ankle while playing football with friends in Northern Ireland. He boldly declared he would continue playing the sport, despite criticism, calling it a freak occurrence. “I’m not going to stop doing what I do,” McIlroy said at the time. “I enjoy that part of my life. I enjoy having that normality in my life, something that I’ve done since I was a kid, and I won’t stop doing that.”
He explained that his left boot became stuck in the turf, causing him to roll his ankle and tear one ligament while spraining another. “It could have been much worse,” he added. “It could have required surgery. Luckily, that wasn’t the case.” Missing The Open at St. Andrews, his favourite venue, gave him perspective: “When you’re playing week in, week out and you’re thinking about winning these tournaments, you get so wrapped up in what you’re doing and your own little life and your own little bubble, sometimes you forget there’s a bigger, wider world out there.”
Current Blister Issue
McIlroy's latest scare came after he was spotted limping at the Truist Championship earlier this month due to a blister on his toe. Speaking at the tournament, he said: “Yeah, I've got a blister on my pinky toe. But it's underneath my nail. So I can't really get to it or so it's a little sore, but I'll be all right. Started to feel it like Friday afternoon.” He insisted the blister was not an excuse for his performance, adding: “No, not at all. No, that was – I wish that was an excuse, but absolutely not (laughing). No, it's fine. I'll be okay.”
McIlroy will tee off at the PGA Championship aiming to win the event for the third time, undeterred by the blister that has caused concern among fans.
