Rory McIlroy has played down concern for his ‘little pinky’ on his right foot as he looks to deny Nick Faldo and become the winningest European-born major champion heading into this week’s PGA Championship.
The double Masters champ was visibly limping over the weekend rounds of the Truist Championship and with McIlroy, a four-time winner at Quail Hollow failing to make any sort of impression on route to sharing a distant 19th place at five-under and 10 shots adrift of champion Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan.
McIlroy’s hopes of victory slipped away on Saturday as he carded a four-over par 75 third round, and a round that included four straight back nine bogeys.
MY LITTLE PINKY’S FINE …
Declares @McIlroyRory as he heads into @PGAChampionship & looking to surpass Nick Faldo as the winningest -born Major champion
Read: https://t.co/x3qIpfUXIC
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✅ @TOURMISS pic.twitter.com/F2ozMVcOyl
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) May 11, 2026
The Northern Irishman dismissed the suggestion that a blister on his right little toe, and affectionately known as your ‘little pinky’ affected his score though McIlroy did admit the injury was the cause for his limping at the weekend.
Speaking to reporters after his final round, McIlroy explained: “I’ve got a blister on my pinky toe on my right foot, but it’s underneath my nail.
“So I can’t really get to it or so it’s a little sore, but I’ll be all right.”
McIlroy was asked in a follow-up question about any long-term concerns and he jokingly replied: “I wish that was an excuse, but absolutely not (laughing).”
McIlroy, as you would expect, scoffed at the notion the blister was the cause of his poor third-round performance: “It’s fine. I’ll be ok.”
More importanly for McIlroy as he arrives at the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club with a chance to make European golf history as he attempts to capture a third PGA Championship title and claim the seventh major championship of his career, which would move him past Nick Faldo and make him the most successful European golfer in men’s major history.
The PGA Champioship has returned to Aroimink for the first time since 1962, when Gary Player captured the title.
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