An MRI examination revealed Rory McIlroy strained tendons in his right wrist in playing what can only be described as a reckless shot from up against a tree root early in his round on day one of the U.S. PGA Championship.
McIlroy indicated his ball at the third hole was a foot from a tree root but clearly that’s incorrect, as TV footage showed his ball practically lying against the root.
The reigning U.S. Open champion jarred his right hand and wrist, so much so, his 7-iron shot flew from his hand landing some 15-yards in front of him, and just missing spectators.
Having bent the shaft, McIlroy was allowed under the Rules of Golf to replace the iron.
Rory McIlroy's injured right wrist wrapped in ice.
The U.S. Open champ clearly was in pain after the shot, and immediately calling for ice that was applied to his wrist.
“I went through impact and held on to the club too long and jarred my right wrist and my right forearm, and it was very painful after that,” said McIlroy
“Yes, it was dangerous as there was a tree root in front of me, but I thought I could make contact with the ball and just let the club go.
“I felt I might get away with it, and in hindsight it would have been better to chip it out sideways, but then I still made five.”
The Congressional winning hero was then allowed a ‘medical’ time out, and with PGA physio, Jeff Hendra inspecting McIlroy’s wrist.
But then in playing the par three, fourth hole, McIlroy threw his club away in obvious pain, and was seen shaking his wrist.
With the pain still apparent McIlroy was given another time off at the side of the fifth green, and with Hendra conducting all manners of tests on McIlroy’s hand and wrist, and with McIlroy’s ball in a bunker for two.
Bizarrely, McIlroy then stepped into the bunker and nearly holed his shot before taking birdie to get back to level par.
And still while in obvious pain, McIlroy remarkably birdied the par four, sixth hole.
At the par, three seventh hole, McIlroy let go the club with his right hand but remarkably his tee shot landed just a few feet from the flag for an easy par.
All the time, the 22-year old was inspecting his wrist, and continuing to apply a ice pack now wrapped in a towel.
Cornell Driessen, a South African born physiotherapist who has worked with McIlroy, joined the Irishman on the eighth tee at the par after he’d again taken his club off the driver, but seconds after remarkably splitting the fairway.
Driessen taped a small splint to McIlroy’s wrist to keep any tendons in place.
McIlroy was then able to play his first full shot since the second at the third, and luckily with his drive taking a huge bounce from rough down the left of the ninth and landing in the much shorter second cut.
However Driessen then applied more tape to McIlroy’s wrist and indicates to McIlroy he will arrange for an MRI scan of his wrist after the round. Driessen walks with McIlroy’s group as McIlroy headed off down the 10th at level par and seven shots shy of American Steve Stricker.
Stricker became the 23rd player in the history of the Majors to record a 63.
McIlroy eventually carded a remarkable level par 70 to be in a share of 23rd place, and walked from the course with the ice pack on his arm, and all set to head off for an MRI scan.
“There’s a little bit of swelling, just on the inside of my wrist, and then it was going up my into my elbow and my shoulder,” said McIlroy
“So I am going off to get an MRI and just see if there’s no damage to it.”
And much debate on McIlroy’s decision to play the shot, the current World No. 4 stands by his actions.
“It was my decision and I felt comfortable doing what I did, but if not, there’s no point risking it,” he declared.
“Its the last Major of the year. I’ve got what, six or seven months to the Masters. So I might as well try and play through the pain and get it over and done with.
“There was some points in the round where I felt like not continuing but it’s a very important tournament, and I’m still at even par.
“So I’m still in the hunt. We’ll see what the results of the MRI tonight, and if I can strap it up and play again tomorrow, then I will.”
RORY MCILROY – INJURY HOLE-BY-HOLE
Third hole – Missed fairway to the left with his ball coming to rest against a clearly exposed tree root, running horizontally in front of his ball.
McIlroy let flies his 7-iron in agony. A small bag of ice is found and McIlroy keeps his wrist covered. A PGA Tour physio meets McIlroy near the green and inspects his wrist. Also as the shaft of McIlroy’s club is bent, he’s allowed to replace the iron.
A later inspection of the two-inch wide tree root reveals a sizeable damaged section.
Fourth hole – McIlroy lets go his iron playing his tee shot, and shakes his wrist in apparent agony.
Fifth hole – McIlroy is afforded a ‘medical time out’ with the physio conducting a series of tests to establish the apparent degree of any injury. McIlroy now walking between shots with an ice pack wrapped in a towel on his wrist.
Sixth hole – McIlroy still in pain and continuing to favour his wrist.
Seventh hole – McIlroy again whisk’s his hand away in agony after playing an iron shot off the tee.
Eighth hole – Cornell Driessen, a South African born physiotherapist, is now on course and inspects McIlroy’s wrist. He advises he will return with tape and does so after McIlroy putts out for a bogey. Driessen used to work with McIlroy and a number of ISM managed players but had a falling out with ISM chief, ‘Chubby’ Chandler.
Ninth hole – McIlroy has a small splint taped to his wrist. There is also a large amount of tape in the palm of his right hand. But for a first time since his second shot at the third, McIlroy plays shots without pulling away his right hand.
10th hole – McIlroy’s on the tee with more tape being applied to his wrist. McIlroy steps up to the tee but drops his 3-wood in disgust as his ball sails into the trees. He then steps aside to again consult with Driessen while Louis Martin, who is one of ISM’s client managers, is in attendance.
Driessen advises McIlroy he will arrange for an MRI on his wrist straight after the round.
11th hole – McIlroy misses the fairway left with his ball coming to rest in a reasonable depression among pine needles. He stands over the ball looking extremely dejected, and all the time nursing the ice pack on his wrist. McIlroy manages to get his ball back to the fairway.
12th to 18th holes – McIlroy bravely battles through the pain barrier birding the 12th and 16th holes but also dropping shots at 15 and 17, and eventually walked off with a remarkable level par 7o.
