Rory McIlroy set to miss Open with ankle ligament damage after football kickabout

The Northern Irishman posted on Instagram saying he had a “total rupture of the ATFL (ankle ligament)" after a football kickabout.

He added that he has already started rehab, though with The Open beginning on July 12, he seems almost certain to miss the chance of defending the title he won at Hoylake a year ago.

McIlroy has not yet given up all hope, however, with a spokesman saying the player "has not yet ruled himself out of playing" in the tournament at the Old Course in St Andrews.

The Northern Irishman can leave his decision to play or not at the last minute, and given that he has played the course dozens of times both as an amateur and a professional he will have no worries about learning the layout.

However, ATFL ruptures generally require six weeks' recovery time, with aircast boots (as pictured in McIlroy's Instagram post) worn for half of that. McIlroy's hopes of defending both his Open and US PGA Championship titles are in serious doubt.

What a terrible, crushing shame for McIlroy and his fans - and indeed the entire game of golf, which was desperately looking forward to a duel between McIlroy and Jordan Spieth (who between them have won all of the last four Major championships).

And while it's easy to be wise after the event, it's extraordinary that McIlroy should be risking his season playing football just as he goes into the most crucial few weeks of 2015. Frankly, it's ridiculous.

In short, we can't help but wonder what on earth was he thinking. No doubt he'll be kicking himself now - or at least he would be, if his ankle wasn't already so sore.