LOS ANGELES • Rory McIlroy has continued to fuel expectations about defending his US PGA Championship against the likes of Jordan Spieth and Zach Johnson by posting a video of himself hitting a drive on the golf course.

The Northern Irishman, wearing blue tape over the left foot that he injured last month, showed no evidence of feeling pain or discomfort as he swung his body to smash the ball, shifting his weight between his feet as he did so.

"Feels good to hit the driver again," the world No. 1 wrote alongside his video post on Instagram on Thursday. He has not played golf since the US Open in June when he was outshone by Spieth.

The 26-year-old earlier said that he had "come a long way" in his rehabilitation process from the left anterior talofibular ligament he ruptured while playing football with friends just over 41/2 weeks ago, only nine days before he was scheduled to defend his Open crown.

McIlroy's hopes of featuring at the US PGA Championship had seemed remote when he was initially ruled out for at least a month.

He shared pictures on Thursday on social media to illustrate the improvement to his ankle in a relatively short time, comparing its appearance between "41/2 and 31/2 weeks ago respectively".

His chances of returning for the final Major of the year, which begins at Whistling Straits next Thursday, have been gathering pace.

THE TIMES, LONDON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE