Rory McIlroy Injury: U.S. Open Champion Hurts Wrist, Will Keep Playing At PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy injured his wrist on the third hole in his opening round at the PGA Championship. After receiving medical attention, McIlroy decided to keep playing, at least for the moment.
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After teeing-off on the fifth hole, Rory McIlroy called for medical attention for his injured wrist. On the third hole, McIlroy played a shot off a root, bending the neck of his club as it made contact with the ground. Immediately after hitting the shot, the US Open champion looked to his wrist, while wincing in pain after apparently suffering some kind of injury. The problems persisted as he finished the third hole and hit his tee shot on the fourth, with medical personnel finally checking him on the fifth green.
After a few minutes of evaluation, the on-course physio told McIlroy he couldn't injure his wrist anymore by continuing to play, which seemed to comfort him a bit. McIlroy also received attention, in the form of a quick massage, in an effort to dull some of the pain. It appears his wrist injury involves a nerve as the shock-waves stretch from his hand to his shoulder.
After receiving attention, McIlroy played his third shot out of the bunker on the par five, and seemed to be swinging easier and with less pain than before. He got up-and-down from the bunker, holing his putt for birdie before walking to the next hole.
It appears McIlroy will continue to play through the pain at the PGA Championship in Atlanta. As of now, the young Irishman is through five holes and at even-par on the day.
U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy injured his right wrist playing his second shot on the third hole of the opening round of the 93rd PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Georgia.
McIlroy immediately let go of his club after playing his ball, which had been up against the roots of a tree. McIlroy was able to flex his wrist, and asked for an ice compress, but was continued on to bogey the hole. (Watch video of the swing and injury at PGA.com.)
"As Rory McIlroy walks toward the fourth green with his right wrist wrapped in a towel and ice, one wonders: Why is he still playing?," Washington Post golf writer Barry Svrluga asked over Twitter.
The 22-year-old continues to play and is even par through five holes. McIlroy has finished tied for third in each of the previous two PGA Championship tournaments. After winning this year's U.S. Open with a record score (-16), McIlroy entered this week as a favorite to win the last major tournament of the season.
