Rory McIlroy camp denies trip to Whistling Straits ahead of potential US PGA defence

Just as we were getting our hopes up

Optimism that Irish golf fans might be able to cheer on Rory McIlroy at next week's US PGA Championship may be shortlived. The world No.1 was reportedly to have booked in a trip to Wisconsin this weekend for a practice round that could have paved the way for him to tee it up at Whistling Straits. But that Reuters report has been denied by McIlroy's communications team, with publicist Terry Prone telling Irish Golf Desk that McIlroy was "Not booked for such a round. Still going through the ankle rehab process." McIlroy has been out of action since rupturing ankle ligaments nearly five weeks ago playing football, missing the chance to defend his Open crown at St Andrews. The 26-year-old has already ruled himself out of this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and an advance visit to Whistling Straits would have been a last-gasp attempt to see if he has healed enough to take part in the PGA, another tournament he won last year at Valhalla. With a usual recovery time of 12 weeks, McIlroy was always a long shot to cut that period in half, but with Jordan Spieth looming large as a threat to his No.1 ranking, the Irishman will be determined to return if at all possible. The last time the PGA was held at Whistling Straits, in 2010, McIlroy finished just a shot out of a play-off which was won by Martin Kaymer.