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NEWTOWN, Rory McIlroy revealed his decision for the PGA Championship as new concern emerged this week regarding his physical condition entering golf’s second major. - MAY 12: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on from the third tee during a practice round prior to the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 12, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy revealed his decision for the PGA Championship after sudden concern emerged this week surrounding an injury issue.

The five-time major winner cut his Tuesday practice round at Aronimink Golf Club short after just three holes, requiring a cart to roll him off the course following repeated attempts to manage a painful blister beneath the nail of his right pinky toe. The timing of the setback immediately raised new questions about McIlroy’s physical condition entering the year’s second major, particularly with a demanding course setup and four consecutive high-pressure rounds looming.

Despite the jarring scenes on the practice fairways, confidence within McIlroy’s camp appears to be growing. According to Golf Central reporter Todd Lewis, the 36-year-old Northern Irishman plans to use a custom-fitted shoe and a toe separator to reduce the friction that ended his practice session early.

“He’s probably going to have a separator moving forward between his pinky toe because they’re rubbing up against each other,” Lewis said, as quoted by GB News. “He’s going to manage it, put on a new pair of shoes that he’s been fitted for. He said he should be comfortable, get a little bit more healing tonight. He’s not worried about that little pinky. He should be OK for the PGA Championship.”

McIlroy Blister Dates Back to Last Week’s Tournament

The trouble did not begin at Aronimink. During the final round of last week’s Truist Championship at Quail Hollow, McIlroy played on despite a notable limp. He addressed the problem afterward, telling reporters, “I’ve got a blister on my pinky toe on my right foot, but it’s underneath my nail. I can’t really get to it, so it’s a little sore. But I’ll be all right,” as Joel Beall of Golf Digest reported.

Between Quail Hollow and Aronimink, McIlroy told Irish media that he had the toenail removed to accelerate healing and sized up his footwear to reduce pressure on the toe. He even removed his shoe and sock in front of reporters Tuesday to show them the injury firsthand, Golf Digest reported.

Despite the blister, McIlroy exited Tuesday sounding composed, insisting he felt far more settled entering this championship than he did a year ago, when the pressure of completing his career Grand Slam interfered with his focus.

McIlroy’s Path to a Sixth Major at PGA Championship

“Coming into this tournament feels a lot different than what it did last year. I feel like I’ve got some nice clear road ahead to try to get some more of these majors,” he said, as quoted by ESPN.

McIlroy enters as world No. 2 and reigning Masters champion, having secured his fifth major at Augusta National in April. A two-time Wanamaker Trophy winner — his first came at Valhalla in 2014 — he tees off Thursday alongside Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth at 8:40 a.m. Eastern time.

He visited Aronimink on a scouting trip several weeks before the event, and said the advance work lets him take a more relaxed approach during tournament week. Whether his custom footwear holds through 72 holes of competition remains the unanswered question standing between McIlroy and a sixth major title.