McIlroy fuels rumours of return from injury with video

Phil Casey 10:13 06/08/2015
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  • Rory McIlroy has heightened speculation surrounding his return to action by posting a video which shows him working out in the gym without any apparent discomfort from his injured ankle.

    McIlroy has not played since suffering a “total rupture” of ligaments in his left ankle during a game of football with friends on July 4, an injury which ruled him out of the Scottish Open and the defence of his Open and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational titles.

    The 26-year-old has yet to say whether he will be able to defend the US PGA Championship next week and on Tuesday his publicist denied reports he had scheduled a practice round at Whistling Straits on Saturday.

    However, McIlroy on Wednesday posted a video on his Instagram account in which he was seen balancing on his left leg and twisting and throwing a gym ball to mimic the actions of the golf swing.

    Alongside the short video clip, McIlroy wrote: “Working hard every day to come back stronger.”

    McIlroy will be replaced as world number one by Masters and US Open champion Jordan Spieth if the 22-year-old American can win his first World Golf Championship title at Firestone Country Club this weekend. It was at the same event that McIlroy overturned a three-shot deficit to Ryder Cup team-mate Sergio Garcia in the final round 12 months ago to move back to the top of the rankings.

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    Meanwhile, Open champion Zach Johnson is relishing returning to action on one of his favourite courses in Akron. Johnson claimed his second major title by defeating Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman in a play-off at St Andrews last month, despite previously stating the Old Course was his least favourite on the Open rotation.

    The 39-year-old also said he dislikes the “contrived” US PGA venue of Whistling Straits, but is a big fan of Firestone Country Club, a venue where he was sixth in 2011 and fourth in 2013.

    “I love the golf course,” Johnson said. “I don’t like to label or place or prioritise courses, but this is way up there for me.

    “I love what this course demands. I think you’ve got to hit it straight. There’s a lot of tee shots into the fairways that are not flat so you’ve got to kind of angle it in there. The driver is important here. I like that.”

    Forty eight of the world’s top 50 players are in the 78-strong field, with just defending champion McIlroy and American Chris Kirk absent due to injury.

    Spieth, who has been paired with Johnson for the first two rounds, finished 49th on his debut last year and failed to break par in any of the four rounds. 

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