The blister that threatened Rory McIlroy’s pursuit of back-to-back major titles? Ancient history, according to the Northern Irishman, who emerged from a full nine-hole practice session at Aronimink on Wednesday with his confidence, and his troublesome right pinky toe, intact.
“It feels fine,” McIlroy stated flatly after completing the back nine alongside compatriots Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry, plus Spain’s Angel Ayora. “It’s totally fine.”
The blister that wouldn’t quit
The drama began to unfold last Sunday at Quail Hollow, when the 37-year-old was spotted favouring his right foot during the final round. The culprit? A blister beneath his right pinky toenail that had been festering since Friday.
McIlroy’s solution was characteristically no-nonsense: remove the toenail entirely to better treat the underlying issue. Speaking to the Golf Channel on Monday, he revealed the extreme measure, though he maintained the problem wouldn’t derail his PGA Championship campaign.
Tuesday’s events appeared to contradict that optimism. After managing just three holes of practice, McIlroy pulled up, removed his sock and shoe to examine the troublesome digit, and opted against continuing past the fourth tee. He was spotted trying on multiple pairs of footwear in the clubhouse, searching desperately for a combination that might ease the discomfort.
Wednesday’s complete about-turn told a different story entirely.
Full speed ahead
Not only did McIlroy navigate all nine holes of Aronimink’s back side without visible distress, but he also spent time on the practice range beforehand. The only concession to his recent struggles came at the 18th hole, where he briefly removed his right sock and shoe to treat the area before cheerfully signing autographs for spectators.
His game plan moving forward is straightforward: cushion the affected toe to prevent friction with its neighbour, and wear a slightly larger right shoe with additional width in the toe box. It’s a small adjustment for a player chasing history across the 7,394-yard, par-70 layout over the next four days.
Chasing immortality
McIlroy arrives at Aronimink as one of the pre-tournament favourites to lift the Wanamaker Trophy, having captured his second consecutive Masters title last month. Should he triumph on Sunday, he would shatter not one but two significant historical barriers.
No player has won back-to-back majors since Jordan Spieth managed the feat in 2015. More remarkably, no golfer has claimed both the Masters and PGA Championship in the same season since Jack Nicklaus accomplished the double in 1975.
For a player with six major titles already to his name, a seventh would further cement his legacy amongst the game’s elite.
