Rory McIlroy’s injury puts Open in doubt

Rory McIlroy’s chances of defending his British Open title are almost certainly in the bunker after weekend football antics resulted in an ankle injury that could see him off the greens for months.

Many bookmakers were still accepting bets last night on the 26-year-old for the championship, which tees off at St Andrew’s in just nine days, but Paddy Power was no longer offering a price.

A mouth-watering showdown with rising star Jordan Spieth was all but dashed by the injury he sustained on Saturday.