Defending champion Rory McIlroy said Monday that he's "100 percent" and that he'll return from a serious ankle injury to compete this week at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.
The No. 1-ranked player in the world, McIlroy suffered ligament damage in his left ankle during a July 4 soccer "kickabout" with friends in Northern Ireland. He withdrew from the Scottish Open, then The Open -- where he was also the defending champion -- as well as last week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, which he also won last year.
McIlroy arrived at Whistling Straits over the weekend, hitting the driving range on Sunday and playing nine holes in the rain -- making at least three birdies -- on Monday morning.
"To play golf, it's 100 percent," McIlroy said of his ankle. "To go back on a soccer pitch, it wouldn't be quite ready. But to do what I need to do this week, it's 100 percent."
McIlroy is grouped for the first two rounds of the PGA Championship with Masters and U.S. Open winner Jordan Spieth and The Open champion Zach Johnson. They tee off at 2:20 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Bob Harig of ESPN.com contributed to this report.
The No. 1-ranked player in the world, McIlroy suffered ligament damage in his left ankle during a July 4 soccer "kickabout" with friends in Northern Ireland. He withdrew from the Scottish Open, then The Open -- where he was also the defending champion -- as well as last week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, which he also won last year.
McIlroy arrived at Whistling Straits over the weekend, hitting the driving range on Sunday and playing nine holes in the rain -- making at least three birdies -- on Monday morning.
"To play golf, it's 100 percent," McIlroy said of his ankle. "To go back on a soccer pitch, it wouldn't be quite ready. But to do what I need to do this week, it's 100 percent."
McIlroy is grouped for the first two rounds of the PGA Championship with Masters and U.S. Open winner Jordan Spieth and The Open champion Zach Johnson. They tee off at 2:20 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Bob Harig of ESPN.com contributed to this report.
