Rory McIlroy paired with Jordan Spieth for likely return to PGA Championship

McIlroy, the No. 1-ranked player in the world, missed the British Open after rupturing a tendon in his left ankle while kicking around a soccer ball with friends.

The 26-year-old has not officially said he will compete at Whistling Straits, but has given a number of hints this week via social media, culminating in a post on Friday which appeared to show the inside of a private plane along with various emojis depicting a US flag, a thumbs-up symbol and a golf flag.

Zach Johnson, who denied Spieth his third major succession at St Andrews last month, completes the threeball comprising the last three major-winners.

Rory McIlroy was the undisputed No. 1 player in the world, the victor of back-to-back majors and the overwhelming favorite to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters and expand his trophy case of majors.

His chief spokesman said in a text Friday evening that McIlroy has made nothing official.

McIlroy is absent from the Bridgestone Invitational this week, but has been on everyone’s mind because of his Instagram posts this week showing he is healthy enough to work out and swing a club. “I’ve come a long way since”, McIlroy tweeted.

We can put the speculation to bed because Rory McIlroy’s presence at Whistling Straits has been confirmed.

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Without having played for almost two months, McIlroy is in jeopardy of losing his No. 1 ranking.

BUNKER MENTALITY: Golf Digest once set out to count all the bunkers at Whistling Straits.

Dustin Johnson won’t be able to ground his club in the same bunker at Whistling Straits that cost him in the 2010 PGA Championship.

The trio is schedule to begin the first round at 2:20 p.m. New York time on August 13 and then tee off at 9:05 a.m. for the second round the following day. He dominated golf headlines this summer after winning the Masters and U.S. Open and then missing out on a playoff at the British Open by one shot. Mickelson and Fowler, two shots behind, were asked to let McIlroy tee off on the 18th hole to assure it would finish. Still in play is the “American Slam” – no one has ever won the three U.S. majors in the same season.