Rory McIlroy blows out ATFL ankle ligament playing soccer, out of British Open?

Rory McIlroy is almost certainly out of the Open Championship after blowing out his ATFL ligament in his left ankle while playing soccer with his friends on July 4.

McIlroy shared the news via Instagram:

Total rupture of left ATFL (ankle ligament) and associated joint capsule damage in a soccer kickabout with friends on Saturday. Continuing to assess extent of injury and treatment plan day by day. Rehab already started..... Working hard to get back as soon as I can.

A photo posted by Rory McIlroy (@rorymcilroy) on Jul 6, 2015 at 2:53am PDT

The world No. 1 didn't provide a timetable for his return to golf, but McIlroy seems unlikely to be able to defend the Claret Jug that he won last year at Royal Liverpool. An injury to the ATFL ligament, basically a rolled ankle, can take anywhere from 10-14 days to recover. Of course, that means that a huge contender to upend a potential Jordan Spieth Grand Slam is out of action and unable to throw a wrench in history.

For whatever reason, McIlroy has terrible luck near and during Open Championships at St. Andrews. In 2010, he opened at the Old Course with a major-championship-record-tying 63 only to get stuck in a terrible wind storm on Friday and shoot 80 to knock him out of contention. He still finished T-3 that week, albeit well behind winner Louis Oosthuizen.