Golfer Rory McIlroy pulls out of British Open

In an Instagram post, McIlroy was again shown wearing something on his left leg, which was elevated as he watched Wimbledon.

Woods insists his own game is well placed to compete for the Claret Jug, despite a major drought which has stretched to more than seven years.

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

According to one of McIlroy’s social media accounts, he stated that “after much consideration, I have decided not to play in the Open Championship at St. Andrews”. Keeler, who covered everything related to the Georgia native son Jones, first used “Grand Slam” in the context of Bobby’s accomplishments in 1930. If Spieth pulls it off, he’ll match the accomplishment of… well, no one… if you don’t consider Bobby Jones’ clean sweep of the USA and British Amateurs and Opens in 1930.

Ed Murawinski/New York Daily News With Rory McIlroy unable to defend his Open title, Jordan Spieth looks to take advantage.

Russell Knox was playing the 12th hole in the pro-am at the Scottish Open when he checked his phone and saw he’d received a text from his wife.

Many of McIlroy’s fellow professionals have had their say on his absence from this year’s Open.

Especially because he was going to win. The crowd have always been good to me. “No one would love to stop Jordan in his tracks more than Rory”. With the fun rivalry going on and everything, he’s going to be gutted. With the points that I have, if Rory hadn’t played the way he’s played over the last couple years I think I would have been No.1. “I’m here because I believe I can win this week”.

Kuchar, however, doesn’t think his chances have been boosted much. He joined Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players with three majors at 25 or younger. However, focusing on the short term, a pair of McIlroy August title defenses are now in doubt, at both the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

“We want him back”, Spieth said from the Deere on Tuesday. “Everybody needs to have a life, too”, Spieth said. “It’s unlucky, it’s unfortunate, and I’m sure he’s taking it harder on himself than anybody else. The hairs on the back of your neck stand up, it’s just got that magic appeal”.

Of course, Woods not only played through the pain of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and a stress fracture of his tibia at the 2008 US Open but also famously won that major at Torrey Pines.

Rose seems perfectly placed to alter that next week, a second successive round of 66 at Gullane keeping alive his hopes of successfully defending the Scottish Open.

This wasn’t what he had in mind. Nobody wants to get in because someone got injured. “If I hung up my boots today I could quite happily sit at home and be a very happy man”. It was at the Dunhill Links in 2007 that he finished third to earn his European Tour card.

Woods arrived in Scotland on Saturday morning ahead of the start of the Open on Thursday, and said he was surprised by the condition of St Andrews and the Old Course, which had turned a lot greener since he had last seen it a month ago.