Rory McIlroy has recovered sufficiently from his again harm to start his defence of the Gamers Championship.
The world quantity two confirmed no apparent indicators of discomfort when utilizing his driver to tee off on the primary gap at 14:12 native time (18:12 GMT) and located the center of the golf green with a 329-yard tee shot.
McIlroy solely arrived at TPC Sawgrass on Wednesday for the PGA Tour’s flagship occasion, having opted to remain at dwelling for therapy on the harm that compelled him to drag out of final week’s occasion at Bay Hill.
On the eve of the match, the 36-year-old mentioned “the medicine are working wonders” and “all indications are pointing in the precise path” however that he was taking it “hour by hour” and his participation could be a last-minute choice.
McIlroy is, nevertheless, assured he is not going to worsen the harm by taking part in this week, with the Masters 4 weeks away.
“It isn’t structural, it isn’t joint – it is purely a muscular type of discomfort and fatigue,” he mentioned.
“Clearly I will hearken to the professionals. However there’s nothing that I can do this’s going to hurt that.”
On Wednesday the Northern Irishman didn’t hit a driver or fairway wooden on the vary, as an alternative specializing in golf equipment as much as his six-iron.
He then went to practise his chipping and placing on the course, which is on the PGA Tour’s headquarters in Ponte Vedra Seashore, Florida.
Nevertheless, he hit photographs together with his driver whereas warming up for his opening spherical on Thursday.
McIlroy is hoping to affix Jack Nicklaus as a three-time winner of the occasion, having additionally received the title in 2019 – and the primary to win all three of them at Sawgrass.
The five-time main winner withdrew from final week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill earlier than his third spherical on Saturday.
He felt “a small twinge” in his decrease again throughout his gymnasium warm-up and skilled “muscle spasms” on the driving vary.
The primary main of the yr, the Masters – which McIlroy received final yr to finish a profession Grand Slam – begins on 8 April.
