Rory McIlroy practices at Whistling Straits
Rory McIlroy was on site Saturday morning at Whistling Straits, suggesting he will attempt to return at the PGA Championship after a serious ankle injury suffered on July 4.
The PGA Championship's Twitter handle announced McIlroy was at the course and posted a photo, while Golf Channel has shown video of McIlroy on the driving range and the course.
McIlroy has yet to say officially that he is playing in the major championship, where he would be defending his title, but the PGA of America had him listed in the Thursday-Friday starting times, and he is scheduled for a Wednesday news conference.
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 this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, which he also won last year.
An IrishGolfDesk.com report said McIlroy practiced in Portugal last week, and several social media posts by McIlroy in the past few days suggested he was targeting a return this week.
Among them was video of him working out, another of him hitting a driver, then photos of his ankle just after the injury beside one from a few weeks ago. He also posted a photo inside a private plane presumably headed for the U.S.
If he is able to play at Whistling Straits, McIlroy is grouped for the first two rounds 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.
