Rory McIlroy could defend US PGA title

• Rory McIlroy raises hopes of US PGA Championship return
• Allegedly playing a practice round at Whistling Straits on Saturday
• If he tees it up, will be 40 days after rupturing anterior ankle ligament

World No.1 Rory McIlroy has raised hopes of a return to action at the US PGA Championship next week after it was reported that he has scheduled a practice round at Whistling Straits this Saturday.

The 26-year-old, who is the defending champion of the event after his one-shot victory at Valhalla last year, ruptured the anterior ligament in his left ankle while playing football with friends on July 4, subsequently missing the Scottish Open and the defence of his Open Championship title at St Andrews.

Two days after the injury, Rory McIlroy uploaded of picture of himself on crutches onto Instagram and by July 8, the day before the Scottish Open started, he ruled himself out of the Open with the following message that accompanied another picture on the social media platform.

He said: “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.”

Experts revealed that an injury such as Rory McIlroy’s would take anything from six weeks to three months to fully heal and if he does tee it up on Thursday at Whistling Straits, it will be two days less than that minimum of six weeks.

At the time, Scot Richie Ramsay, who has experience of dealing with such an injury, took to Twitter to offer a warning to the world No.1.

He tweeted:

But writer Brian Keogh said that Rory McIlroy wouldn’t be heading into playing in the US PGA Championship without hitting a ball, after he had heard unconfirmed reports that the four-time major winner was seen practicing at Quinta da Lago’s driving range in Portugal just last week.

As for McIlroy’s manager Sean O’Flaherty, he didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment about the alleged practice round.

Rory McIlroy :: Coming back too soon?

If reports surrounding the world No.1’s practice round are true, do you think he’s returning to action too soon? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.