HAVEN, Wis. — Poor Rory McIlroy. He misses two tournaments that he won last year, including the British Open, and people are talking about his No. 1 reign in the past tense. It is as if McIlroy is the established star being upstaged by the ingénue in a Theater on the Greens production titled “All About Spieth.”
Before McIlroy tore ligaments in his left ankle on July 4 while playing soccer with friends, his dominance was drawing comparisons to that of LeBron James. Six weeks away from the stage, and McIlroy has turned into Jets quarterback Geno Smith, with people openly wondering whether his injury will spell the end of his era.