Rory McIlroy's preparation for the PGA Championship hit a minor snag on Tuesday when a stubborn blister forced him to cut short his practice round at Aronimink Golf Club. The world number two and reigning Masters champion was seen driving a cart back to the clubhouse from the fourth tee after completing just three holes, leaving fans to wonder about his fitness ahead of the year's second major.

The trouble began when McIlroy removed his right shoe to examine his toe earlier in the round. He then pulled off his sock at the fourth tee before deciding to call it quits. It's the same issue that plagued him during last week's PGA Tour event at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, where he limped through the final round and later revealed the source of his discomfort. "I've got a blister on my pinky toe on my right foot," he explained on Sunday. "But it's underneath my nail. So I can't really get to it. So it's a little sore, but I'll be all right."

While a blister might sound minor, for a golfer like McIlroy—whose powerful swing relies on a stable foundation—any foot issue can be a concern. The good news is that the Northern Irishman has already played a practice round at Aronimink two weeks ago, giving him valuable course knowledge. With one full day to rest before his 8:40 a.m. tee time on Thursday, he'll have time to treat the blister and get back on track. He'll be joined in a marquee group by Spain's Jon Rahm and American Jordan Spieth, setting the stage for an exciting opening round.

For now, McIlroy remains confident, telling reporters, "No, it's fine. I'll be OK." Golf fans everywhere will be hoping that's the case as he chases his third PGA Championship title.