Rory McIlroy has recovered sufficiently from a again damage 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 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 residence for therapy on the damage that compelled him to tug out of final week’s occasion at Bay Hill.
On the eve of the event, the 36-year-old mentioned “the medication are working wonders” and “all indications are pointing in the precise course” however that he was taking it “hour by hour” and his participation can be a last-minute choice.
McIlroy is, nevertheless, assured he is not going to worsen the damage by enjoying this week, with the Masters 4 weeks away.
“It is not structural, it isn’t joint – it is purely a muscular kind of discomfort and fatigue,” he mentioned.
“Clearly I am going to take heed 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 Seaside, Florida.
Nevertheless, he hit pictures together with his driver whereas warming up for his opening spherical on Thursday.
McIlroy is hoping to hitch Jack Nicklaus as a three-time winner of the occasion, having additionally gained 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 health club warm-up and skilled “muscle spasms” on the driving vary.
The primary main of the yr, the Masters – which McIlroy gained final yr to finish a profession Grand Slam – begins on 8 April.
