Rust-Free Rory McIlroy's Steady Opening Round Leaves Door Open for Friday Run

There were a lot of questions about Rory McIlroy coming into this week at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin.

Was he really healthy enough to be playing? How rusty would he be? Could he defend his title and retain his spot atop the world rankings?

While we don't know the answer to that last question yet, after the first 18 holes of play at the PGA Championship, I feel comfortable saying the ankle is fine, and the rust is nonexistent.

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McIlroy shot a 71 on Thursday, putting him at one under par and tied for 24th on the day, five strokes behind leader Dustin Johnson.

That's impressive considering the world No. 1 hadn't played any competitive golf since the U.S. Open almost two months ago, following an accident on July 4 when he tore a ligament in his left ankle.

It's also impressive considering McIlroy played in the afternoon Thursday, and most of the guys ahead of him, including Johnson, played in much easier conditions in the morning. In fact, he had the third-best score of the afternoon pairings.

"I was pretty nervous on the first tee," McIlroy admitted after the round in a press conference aired by TNT. 

However, he was adamant that the ankle felt great, just like he had assured the press corps it did in his practices leading up to the tournament. 

"The way I'm hitting the ball and the way I'm getting around the golf course, I have full confidence in it," he said.

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McIlroy's round wasn't perfect, but considering he will get to play in the more favorable morning conditions on Friday, it was certainly good enough to keep him in this thing.

That's mainly because of his on-course resiliency. Playing with this year's wunderkind, 22-year-old Jordan Spieth, and British Open champion Zach Johnson, who shot a 71 and 75, respectively, McIlroy stayed steady throughout a tough round.

On the front nine, when he was dealing with those nerves and trying to shake off any speck of rust, both times he bogeyed—on the first and eighth holes—he immediately birdied the next hole.

He mixed in some spectacular par saves too, including scrambling one on the par-five fifth hole that incorporated a shot from inside the pond.

His entire round was a grind—he hit two birdies and six pars on the back nine before bogeying the 18th—but the windy conditions on the shores of Lake Michigan made the afternoon a grind for every player, not just McIlroy.

And considering most players had significantly more practice than McIlroy did coming into this week, he showcased the full breadth of his talent Thursday by staying calm even in the frustrating moments and keeping himself in position to make a move.

"

That round of golf by Rory McIlroy is just another example of his raw talent. 53 days without competition. Returning from injury. Solid.

— Kelly Tilghman (@KellyTilghmanGC) August 13, 2015"

Now that our biggest McIlroy concerns have been appeased, we can start to talk about that third question: Will he win?

While I can't promise he will, I do know he can.

After all, the Northern Irishman absolutely loves the PGA Championship. It has been by far the best major of his career. Since first playing the major six years ago, he's been in the top 10 five times, the top three four times and won it twice.

The last time the Wanamaker Trophy was on the line at Whistling Straits, back when McIlroy was only 21, he finished tied for third.

McIlroy has the distance, the versatility and the patience to thrive on a course as tricky as this one. So counting him out at this point wouldn't just be silly; it would be downright idiotic.

It turns out, it takes a lot more than a torn ankle ligament and a few weeks on the sidelines to slow McIlroy down.