GULLANE, Scotland — All the talk at the Scottish Open is about a player who isn't even here this week.
Rory McIlroy was supposed to be the main attraction at the tune-up to next week's British Open at St. Andrews. But the golf-loving Scottish public has been denied the sight of the world's top-ranked golfer after he injured his left ankle in a soccer kick-about with friends at the weekend.
McIlroy pulled out of the tournament at Gullane on Monday and is a doubt for the defense of his Open title, as he is currently on crutches with a walking boot on his injured ankle.