McIlroy suffers major ankle injury

The Northern Irishman was the favourite for the title at St Andrews and much had been made of a potential rivalry with Jordan Spieth, who has risen to second in the world rankings after winning the year’s first two majors.

World number one Rory McIlroy’s participation at the Open at St Andrews is in jeopardy after suffering a serious ankle injury during a football “kickabout”.

McIlroy has revealed via his Instagram account, with an accompanying photograph showing him on crutches and wearing a protective boot, that he suffered a “total rupture” of a ligament at the weekend.