Rory McIlroy is going to have a tough time this week at Whistling Straits, according to Tiger Woods, a guy who knows plenty about trying to come back -- usually too early -- from injury.
Woods isn't worried so much about any ring rust from McIlroy not competing since the U.S. Open, but rather McIlroy walking the Pete Dye-designed PGA Championship host.
"Obviously, this is going to be tough," Woods said Tuesday. "This is going to be a tough golf course, if you miss the golf ball a little bit. And even the walks, from tee box to fairway, they're not straight. They've got a little angulation. And it's just a matter of how can he hold that up."
McIlroy declared himself "100 percent ready" to defend the Wanamaker trophy on Monday, suggesting his ankle will be able to handle the rigors of tournament golf -- but that it wouldn't do well playing soccer, which is precisely how the world No. 1 sustained the left ankle ligament rupture in the first place.
Woods, who McIlroy texted about recovery after his injury, said the Ulsterman can expect a long week.
"Is he probably going to be in pain? Probably, yeah," Woods said. "Swelling is going to probably occur, but that's why the physios are there, and I'm sure they'll get him organized."
-- Ryan Ballengee reporting from Sheboygan, Wis.
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