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Sports

Tendon Injury Can't Stop McIlroy

Irishman returns to play second round with heavily taped forearm after suffering painful injury at PGA Championship.

No one can ever question Rory McIlroy's toughness after this week.

The young Irishman suffered an injury to his right wrist on Thursday that would have waylaid many players. McIlroy struck a large root while taking a full swing and suffered minor tendon damage. Despite being in obvious pain, McIlroy continued to play through the injury and returned for the second round on Friday.

“When I woke up this morning it was stiff, but it wasn't as painful,” McIlroy said. “I hit a few shots on the range and it was fine and I felt as if I was OK to go out and play.”

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After shooting a 70 on Thursday, McIlroy followed that with a 73 on Friday. He'll make the cut, but isn't close to being in contention to win his second consecutive major title.

Doctors told McIlroy that his soft-tissue injury would not get worse if he continued to play. After undergoing an MRI on Thursday evening, McIlroy showed up at the course on Friday with his right forearm taped.

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The mishap occurred on the third hole on Thursday. A trainer checked on McIlroy after each hole and supplied a fresh supply of ice and towels. McIlroy said he felt a sharp pain run up his arm when he suffered he injury and that each succeeding shot was painful.

McIlroy said he considered quitting a couple of times, but decided to keep playing.

“If it wasn't a major, I probably would have stopped,” he said. “They said, look, you can't do any more damage to it, it's up to yourself. If you want to play and you feel as though you can play OK and still carry on, then do. And if not, then you shouldn't play. I feel as if I can play and so the decision was purely up to me.”

McIlroy called himself at 70-75 percent health and believes he can still be a factor before the end of the tournament.

“I feel as if I can still make birdies out there,” he said. “If I don't think I could contend, I probably wouldn't be playing. I feel as if there's a decent one out there, a 66 or 65, get myself back into red numbers and maybe shoot something similar on Sunday and see where that leaves me.”

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