RORY IS GLAD TO BE IN THE SWING OF THINGS
RORY McILROY is on his way back to f ull fitness, further fuelling widespread speculation that he will compete again soon by posting a video of himself driving a ball.
He has not played golf since rupturing left ankle ligaments playing football with friends a month ago, an injury which cost him the chance to defend his Open title at St Andrews.
But the world No 1 shared the clip on his Instagram account yesterday, with the message: ‘Feels good to hit the driver again!’
The Northern Irishman is clearly pleased with his progress after an earlier video showed him working in a gym without any apparent discomfort.
He al so shared some photographs of his ankle from four and three weeks ago, saying: ‘I’ve come a long way since.’
McIlroy has not confirmed if he will defend his US PGA Championship title at Whistling Straits next week but he may be tempted if Jordan Spieth takes his No 1 spot by winning the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone in Akron, Ohio, this weekend. Masters and US Open champion Spieth was one of the later starters last night as Scottish Open winner Rickie Fowler raced to an early clubhouse lead with a superb 67.
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell overtook him later on by shooting a 66.
Two shots behind is Paul Casey, who feared his game might be a bit rusty after coming into the event on the back of a two- week holiday following the Open at St Andrews.
But after a fine 68 — which included four birdies and two bogeys — Casey said with a grin: ‘I had no clue what was going on. It was a genuine two weeks off and I hadn’t touched a club, so it was panic mode the last couple of days trying to get some practice in.
‘It’s the firmest I’ve seen this golf course in years. Typically it’s been very wet, easy to throw the ball and stick it on the fairways and greens and it’s made this course much wider than it was today. I like it like this — it’s a little bit like playing a major.’
Casey has climbed back to 26th in the world rankings thanks to an excellent season on the PGA Tour, which has seen him lose out in two play-offs and record four other top-10 finishes.
‘Although I’ve had some opportunities to win, I don’t feel disappointed with the way I’ve played,’ said the 38-year-old, who was sitting alongside French Ryder Cup star Victor Dubuisson and American Robert Streb at two under.
‘Even though I didn’t play the play-off like I wanted at the Travelers Championship, the final round was stellar and one of the best I’ve played in a long time.
‘I feel like I’m trending in the right direction and still have time to get a win before the season is out.’
Soren Kjeldsen, Francesco Molinari, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson and Keegan Bradley were also in the hunt a shot further back last night after opening rounds of 69.
Sergio Garcia — who lost a three-shot lead in the final round to eventual winner McIlroy here 12 months ago — carded an opening 71 after battling back superbly from a quadruple-bogey on his seventh hole of the day.
Garcia equalled the course record with a stunning second round of 61 last year, making birdies on his last seven holes to complete the back nine in just 27 shots.
However, he needed nine shots just to complete one hole yesterday, finding water with his approach to the 667-yard 16th, missing the green with his fifth shot and eventually three-putting.
To his credit, Garcia bounced back with a birdie on the 17th and made it to level par with further gains on the second, fourth and sixth, before dropping a shot on the eighth.
Scotland’s Marc Warren shot the same score as the Spaniard, but compatriot Stephen Gallacher had a much tougher day.
He struggled to get his game going after starting out on the back nine and ended up seven over par.