WORLD number one golfer Rory McIlroy has been tipped for a return to next week’s PGA Championship.
The Northern Irishman has scheduled a Saturday practice round at Whistling Straits, according to reports.
McIlroy, 26, has not played since sustaining a ruptured ligament in his left ankle early last month, which ruled him out of defending his British Open title at St Andrews.
The four-times major champion’s plans to practice on the course this weekend suggests that he could defend his title at next week’s PGA Championship.
He has previously said that he did not want to rush his recovery.
"I'm taking a long term view of this injury and, although rehab is progressing well, I want to come back to tournament play when I feel 100% healthy and 100% competitive," he said ahead of the British Open.
McIlroy won last year's PGA Championship by one stroke at Valhalla in Kentucky, his second PGA title in three years.
He will not feature this week's World Golf Championship event in Akron, Ohio.
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