Scots golfer Ewen Ferguson injured after '˜doing a Rory'

Scots golfer Ewen Ferguson injured his pinkie while playing basketball. Picture: Ross Kinnaird/R&A via Getty Images

However, the 18-year-old is confident he will have recovered from a staved finger in time to be properly prepared for the Lytham Trophy, as well as two Challenge Tour starts – one in Turkey and the other in Italy – he’s secured along with his Walker Cup team-mate, Grant Forrest.

“I injured the pinkie on my right hand when I was messing around playing basketball with my little sister and her friend,” Ferguson, the 2013 Scottish Boys’ champion, said.

It was football, of course, that McIlroy was playing with some of his friends when he sustained the nasty ankle injury that ruled him out of both the Scottish Open and Open Championship last year, when he was due to be the defending champion in the latter at St Andrews.

Ferguson sustained his injury just before he was scheduled to defend the Scottish Champion of Champions title at Leven and was also unable to try to retain the Craigmillar Park Open crown the following weekend. The Bearsden player sat out last weekend’s Battle Trophy, won by Craigielaw’s Forrest at Crail, as well, but that was more a precautionary step as he didn’t want to rush back quicker than he felt necessary.

“I could still swing a club after it first happened, but it was sore at impact so I decided to lay off hitting balls for a bit,” added Ferguson. “It’s all cleared up now and, although it’s been frustrating to miss some events, it’s not a massive deal, really. I’m now focusing on some big events – the Lytham Trophy then my Challenge Tour starts in Turkey and Italy.

“I needed to focus on the  bigger picture. Rory didn’t ask to break his ankle when he did. It’s one of these things that can happen and now I’ve found myself in the same  position he did.”