Rory McIlroy has ruled himself fit from the ‘toe-gate’ concerns that saw him abort his PGA Championship practice round after only three holes on Tuesday.
The world No 2 has been struggling with the aftereffects of a blister on his right pinky toe for the past week, which included a misguided attempt of self-surgery when he ripped off the toenail on Monday.
The discomfort around that issue saw him walk in from the course prematurely earlier in the week, but McIlroy tweaked his footwear and completed nine holes at Aronimink Golf Club on Wednesday before insisting the problem won’t be a factor at the season’s second major.
The Masters champion said: ‘It’s fine. I felt very soft having to walk in because of a little toe but I figured it out by separating the little toe from the other ones and having a bit of cushion around it definitely helps. I have also gone to a bigger shoe (by half a size) and a different style, which is a little softer and wider in the toe box.
‘Yesterday was painful but today I was pleasantly surprised by how good it felt.
‘It is not a shot type (that causes the pain). It is just walking downhill when your foot slides into the end of your shoe. That is when it gives me a bit of bother but it is totally fine.’
Rory McIlroy has ruled himself fit despite ending his PGA Championship practice early Tuesday
The Masters champion says the blister on his right pinky toe will not affect him this weekend
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McIlroy’s campaign for a seventh major title will commence on Thursday morning. He will be grouped with Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth for the first two rounds.
Describing the injury last week, when it first flared up on the PGA Tour stop at Quail Hollow, McIlroy said: ‘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.’
A tie for 19th at the Truist Championship over the weekend was a modest indicator of his form, as was a recurrence of some wonky driving from the tee, but there have evidently been no recurrences of the motivation issues that followed his 2025 breakthrough at Augusta.
McIlroy refused to blame the problem with his pinky toe as an excuse for the four over-par 75 on Saturday that ultimately derailed his tournament in North Carolina.
Asked about it impacting his poor third round, he said firmly: ‘No, not at all. I wish that was an excuse but absolutely not.’
