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Golf

Rory McIlroy: "Honestly, I haven't lifted a weight all year"

Rory McIlroy insists he hasn't lifted a weight all year and that recovery from a recurring r...



Rory McIlroy: "Honestly, I...
Golf

Rory McIlroy: "Honestly, I haven't lifted a weight all year"

Rory McIlroy insists he hasn't lifted a weight all year and that recovery from a recurring rib injury is going well.

McIlroy returned to the course last week after a long injury lay-off to compete at the US Open. The Northern Irishman has endured a stop-start season, factoring in his injury and marriage earlier this year to Erica Stoll.

Speaking ahead of the Travelers Championship in Connecticut, McIlroy gave an update on his condition.

"I feel good," he told reporters. "Yeah, I feel really good. Again, it's just a matter of I feel it's improving each and every week. I felt better than I felt last week, and last week I felt better than the week before.

"So I think I'm managing it the right way now and concentrating on playing, concentrating on my short game, not hitting as many balls. I'll hit balls maybe 30, 40 minutes max, and that's really it.

"But if I can get my work done, it's quality over quantity at this point. If I can get quality practice for those 40 minutes that I hit balls, I should be totally fine."

McIlroy has been criticised in the past for his weight-lifting routine, but the 28-year-old revealed that he's taken a step back from his training programme to accommodate his recovery. 

"Honestly, I haven't lifted a weight all year, and it's tough for me to come out and sort of say I don't. But I literally the most I've lifted in the gym is 15 pounds this year because of my injury.

"I'm nowhere near as strong as I used to be. I'm not. But I don't need to be. I feel like physically if I'm stable and I'm strong in the right areas, I'm okay. So at least I can't be criticized for that this year."

This week, the PGA Tour announced that it would be adding a new programme of blood testing to as part of the sport's new anti-doping measures.

McIlroy welcomed the measures.

"I think it's good. I said in a press conference at the Open Championship last year and openly said if we're not blood tested we're not doing all we can to make sure that golf is a clean sport. 

"If golf really wants to be taken seriously and wants to be a sport in the Olympics and a part of the Olympic program, it needs to get on board with everything that all the other sports do as well. So blood testing in golf is a massive step in the right direction."

He added: "I was asked yesterday does anyone have anything to fear from it? I really don't think that golf has any sort of drug problem at all. So, yeah, I don't think anyone should be fearful. I'm so careful with what I take in terms of supplements."

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