Rory McIlroy said a blister under the nail of his right pinky toe is under control after he cushioned the toe and moved to a shoe a half-size larger and a bit wider, and he sees no reason he cannot play, the report says.
The Masters champion left Aronimink on Tuesday after three holes of his first practice round because of the blister, the report says. He returned on Wednesday and completed a nine-hole practice round without issue.
McIlroy acknowledged he felt uneasy about having to walk in earlier, but the report says he was pleasantly surprised by how the foot responded after the adjustments. He noted that walking downhill — when the foot moves toward the front of the shoe — could still cause some irritation, but said overall the discomfort was gone.
Per the report, McIlroy has adopted a small cushion around the pinky toe in addition to the roomier footwear, and he walked his practice round without noticeable discomfort. He told reporters he felt fine and did not anticipate a problem with competing.
McIlroy is scheduled to play Thursday morning alongside Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm, the report says. The group pairs Spieth, who is aiming to add the PGA Championship to complete a career Grand Slam behind McIlroy, with Rahm, who is seeking a major that would be a first for his country; the report notes Spanish players have captured every other major but the PGA Championship.
