Tour News

Rory McIlroy’s MRI shows recurrence of rib injury

Published

9 years ago

May 16, 2017

Word that Rory McIlroy was dealing with a recurrence of the back pain that sidelined him for seven weeks earlier this year filtered through TPC Sawgrass last week.

McIlroy gritted his teeth and turned in a two-over, tied-for-35th finish at The Players, but he was candid with reporters, admitting the pain was in the same area as his previous injury but not as severe.

‘If that injury was an 8 or a 9 in terms of pain and soreness and stiffness, this is around a 4 or 5. It might just be a flare-up of what happened previously and I just need to rest for a few days and it might be OK. Hopefully, that’s what it shows in the scan…”

An MRI Monday in Northern Ireland confirmed his suspicions, showing “no new injury, rather a low grade response to the rib joint I injured earlier in the year,” according to the Ulsterman.

He indicated that he still plans to tee it up at the BMW PGA Championship, which begins May 25 and will presumably rest until then.

McIlroy missed four tournaments earlier this year following soreness in his back at the South African Open in January. He was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in a rib.

Glancing at the calendar, the U.S. Open is in four weeks.

Related Topics:

Up Next

Tour Mash: Horschel snaps MC streak with AT&T Byron Nelson win

Don't Miss

Tour Mash: 4 Memories from The Players Championship

Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

8 Comments

jerseychris

May 18, 2017 at 7:07 am

The rib will be ok but too bad he signed a contract to wear those stupid looking shirts.

Reply Report comment
The Dude

May 17, 2017 at 9:03 pm

keep pumping iron….wearing shirts (at least) one size too small…so you can “look more athletic”….Rory is headed down Tigers path (minus 10 majors). Sad to see really

Reply Report comment
Blake

May 17, 2017 at 11:40 am

Been saying it for years. These guys swinging as hard as possible for years is a bad thing for their backs/bodies. On top of crazy workout routines.

Reply Report comment
- H
  
  May 17, 2017 at 5:20 pm
  
  Yes……. but it’s also hard when he’s laying pipe with the new missus
  
  Reply Report comment
ooffa

May 17, 2017 at 9:26 am

Steroids

Reply Report comment
McGary

May 17, 2017 at 8:21 am

The TaylorMade curse strikes again.

Reply Report comment
DW

May 17, 2017 at 2:56 am

Know from experience, eh? Can’t see your wiener, I bet?

Reply Report comment
Sh

May 16, 2017 at 2:30 pm

Right side or left side rib? I’m assuming it’s the right side?

Reply Report comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

2 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.

In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the ShopRite LPGA

Published

6 days ago

May 28, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX Tour Photographer Greg Moore was on site in Galloway, New Jersey, ahead of the ShopRite LPGA powered by Wakefern to snap some WITB photos and more.

Check out links to all the photos below!

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

Odyssey putters – 2026 ShopRite(LPGA)

Popular Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge

Published

1 week ago

May 25, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

The famed Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, is the scene this week for the Charles Schwab Challenge, where Ludvig Aberg enters the week as the tournament favorite.

Tour Photographer Greg Moore and our traveling equipment insider, Alistair Cameron, are both on site this week in the Lone Star State. Thus far, we’ve been treated to an in-hand look at TaylorMade’s new ZT Max putter, as well as a bounty of WITBs.

Check out links to all our photos below.