Rory McIlroy Overcomes Injury Scare Ahead of PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy has played down concerns over a right foot injury after returning to full practice ahead of the US PGA Championship at Aronimink near Philadelphia, saying he was “pleasantly surprised” by how well it responded during a nine-hole session on the eve of the tournament.

The Masters champion had briefly disrupted his preparations for the second major of the year after being forced to stop a practice round on Tuesday following just three holes due to pain in his right little toe.

He later admitted he did not feel able to continue walking the course, opting to use a golf cart back in.

Blister issue behind the discomfort

McIlroy explained the problem stemmed from a blister under the toenail, first aggravated during last week’s Truist Championship. After initially trying to manage it, he removed the nail and released the blister earlier this week in an attempt to ease the pressure.

While that helped, swelling and bruising remained, leaving the area sore as he continued his build-up.

Despite the setback, McIlroy insisted there is no issue when striking the ball and that the discomfort is largely related to walking the 7,394-yard Aronimink layout, which features significant elevation changes.

Footwear change helps recovery

A change of footwear has helped the world number two find comfort again, with McIlroy switching to a wider, softer shoe and adding extra padding around the affected toe.

He also went half a size up to reduce pressure, a move he says has made a noticeable difference.

“I figured it out and separated the little toe from the other ones and a bit of cushion around it definitely helped,” he said. “It’s half a size up and it’s a wide fit so there’s just a bit more room.”

Positive signs ahead of opening round

After completing nine holes on Wednesday, McIlroy said the response from his foot was better than expected and described the issue as manageable.

“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,” he said. “A mountain out of a molehill.”

He added that he expects no limitation on his swing as he begins his bid for a third PGA Championship title.

Star-studded opening tee time confirmed

McIlroy begins his tournament at 13:40 BST (08:40 local time) on Thursday in one of the standout groups of the opening round.

He is paired with fellow major champions Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth, with Spieth looking to complete the career Grand Slam with a win at the PGA Championship.

The trio form one of the marquee three-balls of the day, ensuring one of the most watched groups when play begins in Pennsylvania.