Top-ranked Rory McIlroy will not be able to defend his title in the British Open.
He announced Wednesday that a ruptured ligament in his left ankle would keep him from St. Andrews to play in the British Open. McIlroy said he injured his ankle while playing soccer with friends in Northern Ireland over the weekend.
He will be the first player to not defend his Open title since Ben Hogan in 1954.
McIlroy said that his recovery is going well, but that he wanted to take a cautious approach and compete only when he was fully healthy.