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 "Total rupture of left ATFL (ankle ligament) and associated joint
capsule damage in a soccer kickabout," McIlroy wrote on his
Instagram account.
"Continuing to asses extent of injury and treatment plan day by day.
Rehab already started...working hard to get back as soon as I can,"
he said, alongside a photograph showing him standing on crutches
with his left ankle in a heavy surgical boot.
McIlory's showdown with double major winner Jordan Spieth was
expected to be the highlight of the Open, which takes place at St
Andrews on July 16-19.
McIlroy, who won last year's Open at the Royal Liverpool course,
Hoylake, may also be doubtful for his scheduled defence of the US
PGA Championship title next month.
The 26-year-old Northern Irishman is the current world number one
and has won four major titles, the 2011 US Open, the 2012 PGA
Championship and, in 2014, the British Open and the PGA
Championship.
He is one of only three men, along with Jack Nicklaus and Tiger
Woods, to have won three majors by the age of 25.
After a strong start to the 2015 season, he showed signs of fatigue
when he missed the cut at two successive events in May and said
that, after five successive tournaments, he needed to take a break.
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McIlroy has injured his ankle playing football before. He suffered a
similar, but less severe, problem in December 2013 after which he
revealed: "I was off my ankle for about a week over New Year."
He was due to play in the Scottish Open this week as part of his
preparations for the Open.
McIlroy was out of contention to win at the two majors won by Spieth
this year.
At the Masters, in April, he was four strokes adrift and at the US
Open he was five shots back and finished tied ninth.
(Editing by Toby Davis/Amlan Chakraborty)
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