Rory McIlroy declared himself ‘fit to go’ despite his right wrist still heavily bandaged.
The reigning U.S. Open played a reckless shot at the third hole on day, hitting a two-inch wide tree root, but then playing through the pain barrier to record a remarkable level par 70.
An MRI scan straight after first round revealed strains to the tendons that connect his wrist to his elbow.
McIlroy’s injury concern commanded enormous TV coverage around the world, and it begged the question when’s the last time in a Major that a situation like McIlroy’s managed to command more attention than someone shooting a 63, and also Tiger Woods shooting his second worst score in a Major?
McIlroy was due to tee off in his second round at 8.45am local time but didn’t appear on the Atlanta Athetic Club practice range until 8.05am.
While McIlroy had his wrist strapped he also had taken anti-inflamatory pills, and declaring before teeing off: “I’m okay to play.”
But when McIlroy did tee off he played a superb drive down the 10th there was the pain of a three-putt bogey five.
Cornell Driessen, the South African born physion who treated McIlroy on the course throughout his first round, indicated the main concern was that the tendon was intact and there was not even a partial tear.
McIlroy’s ISM manager, ‘Chubby’ Chandler, commented “I was present at a meeting when it happened but then I got a text telling me that there would be a new seven-iron ready for him this morning, so I knew he had broken a club.
“Then I got a lot of texts asking if he was all right, so I knew he had a problem.
“The medical centre we went to were unbelievable. It was shut, but they got a hand specialist and two orthopaedic surgeons there to have a look.
“Rory wants to play and the guys said that if the worst comes to the worst he might be out a week longer.”
And while there continues to be enormous debate on the wisdom of McIlroy playing the shot from beside the tree root, Chandler somewhat defended the 22-year old McIlroy.
“Guys play to the limit and if he thinks he can do it he’s going to have a go,” said Chandler.
“Rory indicated the tree root was a foot in front of the ball but it looked two or three inches to me!
“But he’s fine. He’s a strong, young lad and everybody has a different pain threshold, but I know he winced a lot when he was working on it this morning.
“I can’t believe he shot 70 with all that gunge strapping on.”
And while McIlroy’s caddy, J P Fitzgerald has again come under fire for not intervening, Chandler said: “He doesn’t listen to the caddie anyway!”
