Ailing McIlroy will not defend Open title at St. Andrews
The inevitable became reality Wednesday when Rory McIlroy announced he will not play the British Open next week at St. Andrews.
The news comes two days after McIlroy announced he ruptured a ligament in his left ankle playing soccer with friends on July 4 in Northern Ireland.
It’s a devastating blow to McIlroy, the No. 1 ranked player in the world and defending British Open champion, and the sport, which has been clamoring for a rivalry to blossom between McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, the winner of this year’s Masters and U. S. Open.
On Monday, McIlroy posted an Instagram picture of himself on crutches while wearing a protective boot on his left ankle. At the time, he withdrew from the Scottish Open, which begins Thursday, but stated he still held out hope of making the British Open.
On Wednesday, he posted a photo of himself watching Andy Murray on television playing in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, accompanied by this caption:
“After much consideration, I have decided not to play in the Open Championship at St. Andrews. I’m taking a long term view of this injury and, although rehab is progressing well, I want to come back to tournament play when I feel 100% healthy and 100% competitive. Thank you for all your support and best wishes. I hope to be back on the course as soon as I can…. In the mean time, come on Andy!!!’’
Murray went on to win his quarterfinal match. McIlroy will have to wait — perhaps until the PGA Championship in August at Whistling Straits, where, if he is able to play, he will defend his PGA title.
McIlroy will own the dubious distinction of being the first player not to defend his British Open title since Ben Hogan in 1954.
While McIlroy tried to make light of his injury and missing the Open, there are many in the game who have criticized him for putting his physical well being in jeopardy by playing soccer in the prime of his career.
“It’s an unforced error, and I think this will be the greatest disappointment of his career, to not be able to defend his championship at St. Andrews,’’ ESPN analyst Paul Azinger said Wednesday. “I think it will hit him like a ton of bricks when the bell rings on Thursday and he’s not there.”
McIlroy will be replaced in the field by first alternate Russell Knox, who’s from Inverness, about three hours north of St. Andrews. It will be Knox’s first British Open.
“We are naturally very disappointed that Rory will be unable to defend his title at St. Andrews next week,” the R& A said in a statement. “Rory will play in many more Open Championships and our primary concern is for his complete recovery.”