Rory McIlroy could be out of Open Championship after rupturing ankle ligaments

Rory McIlroy is looking set to miss next week’s Open Championship title defence at St Andrews after suffering an injury while playing football.

The World No.1 ruptured ankle ligaments over the weekend during a kick-about with pals.

A spokesman for McIlroy has been quick to speak out for the Northern Irishman and insists he has not been ruled out of playing in the third major of event of the year at the Old Course.

McIlroy announced the news via Twitter and shared an accompanying photograph on Instagram which shows the golfers balancing on crutches and wearing a protective boot.

In the message McIlroy said he was “working hard to get back as soon as I can” and admitted he suffered a “total rupture” of ligaments in his left ankle while having a friendly “kick about with friends of Saturday.”

The 26-year-old, who won last year's Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, was due to compete in this week's Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane. That now looks an unlikely prospect.

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