Rory McIlroy was troubled by a foot problem during his first practice round ahead of the US PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia. The Masters champion, who is aiming to win back-to-back majors, revealed last week at the Truist Championship that he had developed a blister on the small toe of his right foot.
Practice Round Concerns
The 37-year-old Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Monday and spoke to the media on Tuesday morning, appearing in good spirits without any mention of the issue. However, during his practice round, he was seen limping and stopped after a few holes. At one point, he removed his shoe to assess the problem. Prior to cutting short the round, he had completed extensive practice on the range and short-game area.
Upcoming Tournament
McIlroy is scheduled to begin his quest for a seventh major title on Thursday at 8:40 a.m. local time (1:40 p.m. BST), playing alongside Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth. Despite the foot issue, he expressed confidence and motivation after winning consecutive Masters titles.
"Coming into this tournament feels a lot different than what it did last year," McIlroy said. "I feel like I've got some nice clear road ahead to try to get some more of these majors."
Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if the blister affects his performance in the championship.
