Rory McIlroy cuts PGA Championship practice short after pinky-toe blister

The Masters champion could not make it past the third hole of his practice round Emilee Chinn/Getty Images Share articleRory McIlroy was forced to cut his practice round for the PGA Championship short with discomfort from a blister on his right pinky toe. The two-time Masters champion is heading into the United States’ major seeking his third win, after triumphs in 2012 and 2014. McIlroy, 37, has not played competitively on the Aronimink course before and could not make it past the third hole on Tuesday, two days before the tournament’s start. “I’ve got a blister on my pinky ​toe on my right foot, but it’s underneath my nail,” McIlroy said, per Reuters. “It’s a little sore. But I’ll be all ​right.” McIlroy told the Irish Independent that he was forced to go up a shoe size to accommodate the foot issue, going from size 9 to a size 10 for the practice. “I ended up ripping the toenail off last night, just because it was bothering me so much,” he told the Irish publication. “I just got in the bath and got the toenail to soften up and then burst the blister that was underneath. It feels better today.” During his practice round, however, McIlroy was seen fidgeting with his shoe and limping. Finally, he sat on the fairway to take off his shoe and sock and point at his toe. It remains to be seen whether he will opt to practice again before his 8.40am ET tee time with Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth. McIlroy enters the PGA Championship as a clear favourite, alongside American Scottie Scheffler. The Northern Irishman won his second-straight Masters last month and with six major championships, he’s tied with Nick Faldo for the most majors by a European in the modern era. The PGA Championship will take place from May 14-17 in Pennsylvania and last year had a prize pot of $19,000,000. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms