Top players defend McIlroy playing soccer, which led to ankle injury
Rory McIlroy isn’t the first golfer to injure himself doing something off the course, and he certainly won’t be the last. However, the world No. 1 has taken flak for sustaining an ankle injury while playing soccer that will likely keep him from defending his British Open crown.
Several top players have come to McIlroy’s defense ahead of next week’s Open at St. Andrews, saying the Ulsterman has every right to have a life outside the ropes.
Phil Mickelson broke his femur while skiing in Arizona in March 1994, missing three months’ time, including his only Masters as a pro. He had McIlroy’s back, or ankle.
“I said then, and I feel the same way now, you can’t live your life in fear,” Mickelson said at the Scottish Open. “You have to enjoy the moment. I didn’t feel like anything he was doing was an unnecessary risk. He was just playing around and accidents happen. People get hurt taking a shower and doing normal day-to-day things. You can’t stop living your life.”
Matt Kuchar was doing one of those very mundane things last year. On a shopping trip, Kuchar’s back seized up in the car. When it didn’t improve after a few days of rest, he withdrew from the PGA Championship.
“I don’t think you can stop living your life,” he said. “You can’t form a bubble around yourself. You can’t protect everything. So I don’t think you stop doing what you’ve always done to this point.”
McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammate, Justin Rose, wasn’t as vigorous in his defense, but did say someone like McIlroy needs to get away from the sport. However, he hedged on such recreation on the eve of a major championship — especially now that McIlroy has, per his camp, a “10 percent chance” of playing at the Old Course.
“It’s a tough question, middle of the season, before a major championship,” Rose said. “Hindsight is a wonderful thing. He probably wouldn’t do it again and it’s probably the last time he does play football in the middle of the season. It’s unfortunate for him, obviously.”
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
