Rory McIlroy suffers ruptured ankle ligament while playing soccer
— -- Rory McIlroy's bid to defend titles at each of the year's final two major championships might have reached a major hurdle this weekend.
McIlroy announced Monday that he suffered a total rupture of his ATFL -- the anterior talofibular ligament and the one most commonly sprained -- in his left ankle while playing soccer with friends Saturday. He posted a photograph to Instagram with his leg in a boot as he balanced on crutches.
"Continuing to assess extent of injury and treatment plan day by day," the world's top-ranked golfer wrote. "Rehab already started. ... Working hard to get back as soon as I can."
The left ankle is crucial in a golf swing as weight shifts to that side while generating power.
His spokeman, Sean O'Flaherty, said he was definitely out of the Scottish Open, which starts Thursday at Gullane. O'Flaherty said they would not know until the end of the week the prospects of McIlroy teeing it up at the Open Championship, which begins at St. Andrews on July 16.
The last time the Open was held at St. Andrews in 2010, McIlroy posted scores of 63-80-69-68 to finish in a share of third place.
McIlroy had been the favorite at St. Andrews at 5-1, but he fell to 8-1 on Monday morning after his injury was announced, according to the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. Jordan Spieth, meanwhile, went from 6-1 to 9-2 and is now the betting favorite as the 21-year-old Texan goes to the Open Championship as only the fourth player with a shot at the modern Grand Slam.
However, after McIlroy announced his injury, Spieth became the favorite
"That's a big blow to the Open if he misses it," former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance said from Wimbledon.
McIlroy won the Open last year at Royal Liverpool by going wire-to-wire and taking a six-shot lead into the final round. He also won the PGA Championship, joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Bobby Jones as the only players in the last century with four majors at age 25 or younger.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
