Rory McIlroy’s week at the PGA Championship started off on a challenging note.
The six-time major champion only managed to get through three holes during his practice round at Aronimink Golf Club on Tuesday, struggling with a painful blister on his right foot. McIlroy had been seen limping during the final round of the Tourist Championship just a few days prior.
“I have a blister on my little toe on my right foot, but it’s under my nail,” he mentioned on Sunday, later disclosing that it started forming earlier in the week. “It hurts a little because I can’t reach it easily. But it’s okay.”
He hadn’t anticipated the blister would occur on Sunday, but something must have changed by the time he got to Aronimink on Tuesday, prompting him to undergo a bit of home surgery to alleviate the discomfort.
“I pulled my toenail off last night because it bothered me so much,” McIlroy shared on Tuesday. “I took a bath to soften my toenails and break up the blisters underneath. I feel better today.”
Interestingly, McIlroy had to go up a shoe size to accommodate the blister on his right foot and was seen fumbling with his shoe and sock during practice before deciding to cut the session short.
While blisters on little toes might not seem significant, they can be quite bothersome, especially for athletes who need to walk over six miles during competition week.
As for the tournament itself, McIlroy is considered the second favorite to win the Wanamaker Trophy, trailing only behind defending champion and world No. 1, Scottie Scheffler.
