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World number one golfer Rory McIlroy says he has ruptured his ankle ligaments playing football with friends - putting his Open Championship defence in doubt.

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Rory McIlroy has severley injured his ankle, but not through doing this. Instead the world's number one golfer posted on his instagram account that he had done it playing football with friends at the weekend. He said it was a total rupture of his left ATFL or ankle ligament and associated joint capsule damage. He goes on to say he is continuing to assess the extent of the injury and treatment plan day by day. Rehab has already started and he is working hard to get back as soon has he can.

The chances of him defending his Open Championship title now looks in real doubt.

His spokeman, Sean O'Flaherty, said he was definitely out of the Scottish Open, which starts on Thursday.

O'Flaherty also said they would not know until the end of the week what the prospect is of McIlroy teeing up at St Andrews on July the 16th.