In what will not be lost on Rory McIlroy as a painful twist of fate, he could lose his status as the world No1 to Jordan Spieth at next week’s Bridgestone Invitational, the very event at which the Northern Irishman reassumed that mantle in 2014.
McIlroy’s withdrawal from the third WGC tournament of this year, where he would have been the defending champion, was confirmed on Wednesday. The odds are currently stacked against a McIlroy return at the US PGA Championship the following week, moreover. “Unfortunately, I will not be defending my World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational title,” he said. “Best of luck to all the competitors, and I look forward to returning to Firestone in 2016.”
Spieth will know victory there next week could take him above McIlroy in the world rankings. The 22-year-old Texan’s stunning season has seen him claim two major titles and come within a shot of featuring in a play-off at the Open. Golfing fans, let alone the players themselves, have been frustrated by an inability to watch McIlroy and Spieth go head-to-head over this summer. Spieth already has set his sights firmly on Whistling Straits. “I don’t know how many guys have done three majors in a year,” he said. “I’m sure there’s only been a few. So that would be the next goal as far as the history goes.”
McIlroy’s entire season has been plunged into doubt by the ruptured ankle ligament caused during a football game with friends which denied him a change to defend the Open Championship. The 26-year-old has spent time in mainland Europe, completing outdoor warm-weather recuperation work under the close watch of his personal trainer, Dr Steve McGregor, but the exact timescale for his return remains unknown.
It is as much in the hands of doctors as McIlroy himself, with the autumn’s FedEx Cup play-offs perhaps the most realistic target. He is, at least, back hitting golf shots.
As significant in McIlroy’s mind is a sense of not returning to the competitive game too early and thereby causing further damage which could hinder his later career. Tiger Woods has recently spoken of the struggles associated with matching ongoing recuperation with trying to win tournaments.
In six previous appearances at Firestone, McIlroy has four top-10 finishes. Last year, he won by two shots from Sergio Garcia after rounds of 69 and 64 were backed up by two 66s. While Bridgestone looked unlikely from the moment he announced he would not play in this month’s Open, the following week’s US PGA at Whistling Straits is of more significance. He is again the reigning champion.
McIlroy is not alone in missing the Bridgestone. Chris Kirk of the US broke a hand before the Open and has not played since, but 76 of the world’s top 78 are now scheduled to play. Woods, barring success at this weekend’s Quicken Loans Championship, will not feature.
