McIlroy scheduled to play PGA Championship

World number one Rory McIlroy is set to return from injury at next week's PGA Championship after being scheduled to tee off in the first round, the PGA of America said Friday.

The PGA said on Twitter that defending champion McIlroy had been grouped with US Open and Masters champion Jordan Spieth and British Open winner Zach Johnson for the opening round next Thursday at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

McIlroy later re-tweeted the PGA of America's tweet.

McIlroy, who hasn't played since suffering ankle ligament damage while playing football with friends on July 4, had fanned speculation he would play the final major of the year with a series of social media posts in recent days.

He looked to be on the road to recovery in pictures and videos posted this week, which showed him working out in the gym and hitting a driver.

On Friday the 26-year-old posted a picture that appeared to show the inside of a private plane, along with emojis depicting an airplane, US flag, a thumbs-up sign, a victory sign and a golf flag.

McIlroy last played at the US Open at Chambers Bay in June. He was unable to defend his British Open title or his World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational crown because of the injury.

Spieth can supplant him as world number one with a victory in the Bridgestone in Ohio this week.
Source: AFP