Fit-again McIlroy is ready to return

RORY McILRoY declared himself fit to defend his US PGA Championship title at Whistling Straits this week when he said his injured left ankle was a ‘non-issue’. The world No 1 (below) has been out of action since rupturing ligaments playing football with friends five weeks ago. But he spoke yesterday after playing 18 holes at the tournament venue for a second day in a row. After his first practice round on Saturday, when he was seen scampering up hills on the undulating layout, McIlroy said his ankle was ‘good’. The four-time major winner, who was unable to defend his open title at St Andrews last month, said: ‘obviously, getting around a course like this, playing 18 holes, it felt fine. I’ve come a long way in five weeks.’ McIlroy, 26, does not have to commit to the tournament, which starts on Thursday, until his official tee time for the opening round. He has been grouped with Masters and US open champion Jordan Spieth and open winner Zach Johnson for the first two rounds. Should McIlroy tee off as expected, it would be 40 days since he suffered an injury that some medical experts believed might take three months to heal. It would be more than seven weeks since McIlroy tied for ninth in the US open at Chambers Bay in his most recent competitive start and give the US PGA Championship a huge boost. Meanwhile, Ireland’s Shane Lowry edged out Bubba Watson last night to win the Bridgestone Invitational in ohio and land the $1.5million first prize. Lowry finished on 11 under, two strokes clear of the American. Spieth completed a closing four-under-par 66, his lowest round of the week, finishing in style with a birdie at the last before looking forward to his duel with McIlroy at the US PGA. ‘It’s going to be great,’ Spieth told Sky Sports. ‘I’m very happy he is back, everybody is. He takes the interest in the game to a different level. It will be cool to battle it out with him, hopefully for the No 1 spot if it comes down to Sunday. I am certainly ready to be in that position.’