Rory McIlroy has big shoes to fill at the PGA: His own to help with a blister

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — Rory McIlroy now has big shoes to fill.

The Masters champion made it through three holes of his first practice round before he chose to walk in from Aronimink because of a blister that was under the nail of his right pinky toe.

On Wednesday, McIlroy made it through nine-hole practice round without issue.

“I feel soft having to walk in because of a little toe,” McIlroy said after his practice round.

He found the solution, however. McIlroy is using a cushion around the pinky toe, and then he found a shoe a half-size bigger and a little wider to give him some room. He said he felt fine, and walked without any discomfort, and he sees no reason why he can't play.

“Pleasantly surprised,” he said of how good it felt. “Walking downhill when the foot slides to the front of the shoe maybe gives me a bit of bother. But it's fine. All good.”

McIlroy plays Thursday morning in a group with Jordan Spieth, who is trying to be next in line behind McIlroy to capture the career Grand Slam. Joining them is Jon Rahm, who is trying to achieve a Grand Slam for his country. Spanish players have won every major but the PGA Championship.

Scottie Scheffler has experience hosting a dinner for champions of a major he won, having twice presided over the Masters Club dinner at Augusta National.

The PGA Championship also has a tradition where the defending champion hosts a dinner for all the champions who are there. He chooses the menu and presents each a gift.

There are a couple of differences. Light attendance is not unusual — McIlroy was not part of the group photograph Tuesday night, presumably sorting out the blister that limited practice. Wives are invited. And the defending champion doesn't have to pick up the tab.

On the Scheffler menu: Italian meatballs and focaccia garlic bread for an appetizer; family-style servings of chicken Parmesan, basil pesto gnocchi, strip steaks, giant onion rings, fried Brussels sprouts, salads, smashed roasted potatoes and three flavors of gelato (lemon, strawberry, raspberry).

For the gift, Scheffler gave each champion a Turtle Box speaker.

The next major is the U.S. Open on June 18-21 at Shinnecock Hills, and the PGA Championship could go a long way in deciding who's there.

The U.S. Open exempts the top 60 in the world ranking after this week.

Jordan Spieth would appear to be safe at No. 51. His 10-year exemption from winning in 2015 at Chambers Bay ran out last year, and Spieth has not missed a major dating to the 2013 British Open.

On the bubble are Ryo Hisatsune (59), Sami Valimaki (60), Thomas Detry (61) and David Puig (62). Detry was set to get the spot from being top three in points in LIV Golf until Lucas Herbert won in Virginia to surpass him.

The U.S. Open also takes the top 60 in the ranking published the Monday of the U.S. Open (June 15). PGA Tour players will have four tournaments before then. LIV Golf only has an event in South Korea, while the European tour has events in Belgium, Austria and the Netherlands.

Scottie Scheffler says his parents were supportive without being the least bit overbearing in his development as a junior golf. He says his mother had never asked him for his score.

“She said, ‘If you want me to know what you shot, you’ll tell me. I don't have to ask you what you shot,'” Scheffler said.

And how often did he say his score?

He recalled in great detail an American Junior Golf Association qualifier he wanted to play. His father said he could play it provided Scheffler promise to not play in the ensuing tournament, even if he qualified. There was a family conflict and his father wouldn't be able to take him.

“At the time, you had to qualify for the tournaments, but you could use it somewhere else,” Scheffler said. “The qualifier was a couple hours from my house, so we could get there, and I could play the qualifier. He drops me off at the qualifier. I call him when it gets done. He goes, ‘I don’t like this. This is not something I want to hear.’

“I said, ‘Well, dad, I won the qualifier. So if I win the qualifier, I get into the tournament, and I get to save the exemption.’”

And there began the argument, and turns out Scheffler won that, too. Scheffler called him after the tournament and told him he finished fifth. That was good news because Scheffler was then fully exempt and didn't have to go through any more AJGA qualifiers.

He shared the news with his dad, who said he would be there in a couple of hours. Scheffler, not surprisingly, headed to the range and practiced until his dad arrived.

“I have told them before,” Scheffler said of sharing his scores. “But it’s only if something crazy like that one happened.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Jordan Spieth practices on the sixth green during a PGA Championship golf tournament practice round at Aronimink Golf Club, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Ryo Hisatsune, of Japan, hits out of the bunker on the 16th green during a PGA Championship golf tournament practice round at Aronimink Golf Club, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Scottie Scheffler speaks with the media after a PGA Championship golf tournament practice round at Aronimink Golf Club, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, attends to his right foot on the fourth tee during a PGA Championship golf tournament practice round at Aronimink Golf Club, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, lines up his shot on the 12th green during a PGA Championship golf tournament practice round at Aronimink Golf Club, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Every chance he gets, Mexico coach Javier Aguirre is quick to highlight the leadership of Guillermo Ochoa, who is preparing for his sixth World Cup.

The 40-year-old goalkeeper’s teammates are happy to have him around, too.

Ochoa joined the Mexican national team’s training camp this week as they prepare for their World Cup opener on June 11, and his impact on the locker room was immediate.

“It’s fantastic for us to be able to share the field and the training camp with him," striker Guillermo Martínez said Wednesday. "You can feel the energy of how he’s experiencing this; he’s someone we admire.”

Ochoa, an unused backup in Germany in 2006 and South Africa in 2010, could join the two biggest stars in the game — Lionel Messi of Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal — in taking part in a sixth World Cup at the upcoming edition in North America.

So far, Ochoa is tied with Andrés Guardado, Rafael Márquez and Antonio Carbajal as the only Mexicans to go to five World Cups.

“It’s something the whole country can admire because what he’s achieving isn’t easy, and God willing, we’ll all be there for him,” added Martínez, who will appear in his first World Cup. “What I can say is that Ochoa is one of the greats in the world, we know that for sure. We can learn a lot from someone of his stature and leadership.”

Despite Ochoa’s influence, Aguirre has yet to confirm his place on the final roster. Currently, only two goalkeepers hold guaranteed spots: Raúl Rangel — who has started every friendly this year and is the projected starter for the June 11 opener against South Africa — and Carlos Acevedo, who is set to make his World Cup debut.

Ochoa, who intends to retire from professional soccer following the tournament, arrived in Mexico early to film commercial commitments after finishing his season with AEL Limassol in Cyprus. He then reported to the national team camp well ahead of the other European-based players.

“He’s an icon for everyone. For me, he’s a legend because I grew up watching the national team and ‘Memo’ was already the goalkeeper,” said midfielder Erik Lira. “I know he’ll experience this World Cup differently because it’s his last one. He’s like a kid again — always the first one in the gym. It’s truly a privilege to share the field with him.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Mexico's Erik Lira, left, runs followed by Guillermo Martínez during a training session of the national soccer team in Mexico City, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Mexico's head coach Javier Aguirre leads a training session of the national soccer team in Mexico City, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa catches a ball next tooth head coach Javier Aguirre during a training session in Mexico City, Wednesday, May 13, 2026.(AP Photo/Fernando Llano)