CRANS SUR SIERRE, August 30, 2011 (AFP) - Northern Ireland's US Open champion Rory McIlroy said on Wednesday he is fit to resume competition at this week's European Masters despite some slight numbness in his right shoulder.
Warm sunshine greeted the current World No. 6 when he played an 18-hole practice round Tuesday on the Crans-sur-Sierre course.
It was the 22-year-old's first full practice round since competing in the recent PGA Championship in Atlanta.
It was during the season-ending Major that McIlroy injured his right wrist in playing what most observers still believe was a reckless shot from up against a tree root at the third hole on day one of the championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
McIlroy headed straight from Atlanta to join new girlfriend and women's tennis world number one Carolina Wozinacki in Connecticut where the Dane celebrated her fourth staigth New Haven Open triumph.
And while present in Connecticut McIlroy tested out his wrist by hitting balls.
McIlroy visited the TPC River Highlands course and also hit balls on the range at Yale University golf course.
"The wrist is fine and I'm good to play," he said on Tuesday after his practice round here.
"I'm rid of the bandages on my wrist, and I'm off the pain-killers and anti-inflamatory's.
"The only slight concern, and it's only slight and it's only when I am not swinging a golf club but the area around my shoulder feels like it's dead or numb.
"I've been told there's a little bit of an impingement in the front part of my shoulder but with some continued treatment and massaging I will be fine.
"But it's not worrying me and there's problem in playing any shots, and it's not holding me back in any way, and I'm not protecting or favouring it in any way."
McIlroy's presence on the Swiss course certainly drew much interest and especially when he made his way to the 16th green.
Some 30 patrons sitting outside the Grand Hotel du Golf Palace that is located by the 17th tee abandoned their drinks to grab snaps of the cheerful Northern Irishman.
McIlroy will play the opening two rounds of the Swiss event, where he finished runner-up on debut in 2008, in the company of defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez and exciting Korean Seung-yul Noh.