Major disappointment as ankle injury rules McIlroy out of Open

The claret jug was positioned beneath the screen. In 2002, Woods was 3-2 to win the Open at Muirfield, where his finished tied for 28th after being caught in a Saturday monsoon, and 3-1 to complete the Grand Slam.

The world No1 took to social media to confirm his decision, after seriously injuring his ankle playing football at the weekend.

” After much consideration, I have decided not to play in the Open Championship at St Andrews”, McIlroy wrote on Instagram. During the first 12 years of its existence, from 1859 through 1870, the Open Championship was contested on Scotland’s western coast at the Prestwick Golf Club.

“Winning his third championship in a row next week is a possibility but it’s a golf course that I believe will not play for the strengths of his game”, added the Irishman.

Florida-based Scot Russell Knox, who was first reserve, replaces McIlroy in the field at St Andrews.

McIlroy’s potential showdown with double Major victor Jordan Spieth was eagerly anticipated but the American will now start the tournament as the favourite.

“It’s hugely disappointing, especially with him and Jordan and everything that’s going on”, Graeme McDowell said.

“It was looking to be a really exciting Open for all involved. He knows that, as well as he has been playing, there’s still 150-odd guys who are really good players and will be there to put up a proper, strong challenge”.

LONDON: When Tiger Woods tees it up on Thursday in the British Open he would not be human if his thoughts did not wander back 15 years to when he tamed St Andrews and seemed set to become the greatest golfer in history.

“From everything I’ve seen in golf magazines and this and that, it’s all been about Rory and Jordan”.

“I don’t change much in my life other than a couple things you obviously are a little more cautious of”, Spieth said of mixing fun with avoiding injury.

Those are the three biggest names in golf over the last half-century, combining for 214 wins on the PGA Tour and 39 majors. “Everybody needs to have a life, too”, Spieth said.

“Its unlucky, its unfortunate, and Im sure hes taking it harder on himself than anybody else. “But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. It’s just sometimes there are fluke accidents. The hairs on the back of your neck stand up, it’s just got that magic appeal”.

More major titles came, including a second Open at St Andrews in 2005, but the swaggering dominance of the Millennium year had begun to fall away. The Scottish Open is his first tournament since the ESPN report came out June 29.

This wasn’t what he had in mind.

“Everyone associated with The Open wishes Rory the very best as he looks to return to full fitness”. We all get injured at one point in time. “And unfortunately we found a caddie who was attempting to get some information that would benefit his player and not the whole field”.

When it comes to a summer of major championships in golf, it’s out with the new and back to the old.

Two-time PGA Tour victor and European Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter is confident Woods will overcome his difficulties sooner or later. Watson is 65 years old and as he showed several weeks ago at Del Paso in the U.S. Senior Open, he is still very competitive.

“The pin placements might be two or three yards higher from edges and slopes than we’ve seen them and that limits how close you can get the ball”.