Golf: Rules tossed aside for star

Rory McIlroy has played only once since rupturing an ankle ligament two months ago. Photo / AP

European Tour’s reason and statement of medical expert will worry McIlroy’s admirers.

In what many will view as a bending of the rules for the superstar, the European Tour has granted Rory McIlroy special permission to compete in the final stages of the Race to Dubai despite the world No1 planning not to play the minimum required number of events.

However, it is the tour's reason for invoking the "exceptional circumstances" clause, and the statement of its medical expert, which will worry McIlroy's many admirers, who had been led to believe that his recent injury would not be a long-term concern.

McIlroy, 26, has played only once since rupturing an ankle ligament two months ago. He did not defend his Open title at St Andrews but returned at the US PGA three weeks later. Having finished 17th at Whistling Straits, McIlroy announced that he would continue his rehab before returning this week at the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston and that the injury would not be an "issue" in the future.

However, the comments of Dr Roger Hawkes, the tour's chief medical officer, read less positively. "From the evidence presented to me, in my view this is a potentially serious and significant injury," Hawkes says on the tour website.

"There is a risk of permanent instability of the ankle, which could seriously affect both his golf swing - you need stability in the left ankle during the follow-through - and walking safely on uneven surfaces.

"Although he played again after a few weeks, he will need close attention for about a year. The suggestion of a reduced schedule and, wherever possible, avoiding 'back-to-back' events is, in my opinion, sensible and important."

Keith Pelley, the tour chief executive, insisted that consultation with Dr Hawkes and other experts had convinced him to bend the rules.

"After reviewing and discussing all the medical reports and recommendations from orthopaedic surgeon Dr Andrew Adair, [McIlroy's] physiotherapist Dr Steve McGregor and our chief of medical staff Dr Roger Hawkes ... I am convinced that he could not commit to any further tournament participation without risking further injury and persistent weakness to the ankle in the future. Therefore I have given him approval to play a minimum of 12 European Tour events this year."

McIlroy is top of the Race to Dubai rankings, although his lead of approximately 260,000 ($626,800) over England's Danny Willett is hardly unbreachable. McIlroy will almost certainly play two of the three events in the Final Series, which precedes the Race To Dubai finale, which starts on November 19.

The Final Series comprises the Turkish Airlines Open, starting on October 29, and two tournaments in Shanghai beginning on November 5 and November 12.

The Northern Irishman is such a draw that the tour plainly craves his presence, but it will be interesting to see if there is any dissension from any of the other players.

It will also be intriguing to hear McIlroy's viewpoint when he talks in Boston today. The second event of the FedEx Cup play-off series begins tomorrow and McIlroy was believed to be playing the remaining three tournaments, which conclude with the Tour Championship in Atlanta, starting on September 24.

The European Ryder Cup qualifying race for next year's match at Hazeltine starts at the Russian Open in Moscow today. England's David Horsey, who won two weeks ago in Denmark, is the defending champion.