Jordan Spieth says Rory McIlroy's ankle injury will "dampen" the Open Championship, and hopes his main rival for the Claret Jug will recover in time.
Between them, Spieth and McIlroy hold all four majors, fuelling anticipation of a titanic showdown at St Andrews later this month.
However, McIlroy revealed on Monday he had seriously damaged his ankle ligaments during a casual football session, leaving him unlikely to recover in time to compete at the Open in two weeks.
Total rupture of left ATFL (ankle ligament) and associated joint capsule damage in a soccer kickabout with friends on Saturday.