McIlroy Cleared for US PGA Championship After Toe Scare
Rory McIlroy has declared himself “totally fine” to compete in the US PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia, after a blister on the little toe of his right foot threatened to derail his preparations. The Masters champion completed nine holes of practice on Wednesday and said he was “pleasantly surprised” by how his foot felt.
The world number two from Northern Ireland is seeking to win back-to-back majors, having successfully defended his title at Augusta National last month. However, his build-up to the second major of the year was disrupted when he was forced to halt a practice round on Tuesday after just three holes due to pain in his right foot.
Injury Timeline and Treatment
McIlroy initially experienced discomfort at last week’s Truist Championship at Quail Hollow, caused by a blister under the toenail. At the start of this week, he removed the nail and popped the blister, hoping this would alleviate the pain.
“Popping the blister relieved the pressure but it was swollen and bruised, so it’s just sore,” McIlroy explained after his Wednesday practice session. “But it’s fine, all good.”
The 37-year-old sat down on the 18th fairway during his practice round to inspect his toe, and later explained why he had to leave the course early on Tuesday. “Because I didn’t think I could walk the next six,” he said of his decision to take a golf cart from the fourth tee. “It was sore and I did feel a little soft having to walk in because of a little toe.”
Footwear Adjustments
McIlroy made several adjustments to his footwear to manage the injury. He switched to a larger, wider shoe with extra cushioning to reduce pressure on the affected toe.
“I figured it out and separated the little toe from the other ones and a bit of cushion around it definitely helped,” he said. “And then just going to a bigger shoe and a different style of shoe as well, a little wider and a little softer in the toe box. It’s half a size up and it’s a wide fit so there’s just a bit more room.”
McIlroy confirmed that he does not feel pain while hitting shots, but noted that the undulating 7,394-yard Aronimink layout presents challenges for walking. “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.”
Championship Outlook
McIlroy begins his bid for a third US PGA Championship title on Thursday at 13:40 BST (08:40 local time). He will play in a group alongside fellow major winners Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm.
The three-time major champion enters the tournament in strong form, having won the Masters in April. His toe issue, while causing some concern earlier in the week, appears to have been resolved sufficiently for him to compete at full capacity.
Aronimink Golf Club, a demanding par-70 layout, will test all aspects of the players’ games this week. The course, which has hosted several major championships and PGA Tour events, is known for its challenging greens and precise shot requirements.
Event Details
The US PGA Championship runs from Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 May at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania. Live text commentary of rounds one and two will be available from 12:30 BST on Thursday and Friday, with rounds three and four covered from 17:00 BST on Saturday and Sunday. Live radio commentary of Saturday’s round three will be available from 20:00 BST on Sports Extra, with Sunday’s final round from 20:00 on 5 Live (all timings subject to change).
