St. Andrews will be without the world's top golfer next weekend.

Rory McIlroy announced on Wednesday through an Instagram post that he will not be competing in the British Open.

"I'm taking a long term view of this injury and, although rehab is progressing well, I want to come back to tournament play when I feel 100% healthy and 100% competitive," he wrote.

The 26-year-old Northern Irishman incurred a major ankle injury over the weekend whilst playing soccer. He withdrew from this weekend's Scottish Open on Monday.

Torn ligaments in the ankle normally require six weeks in a walking cast and six weeks of physiotherapy in recuperation.

McIlroy won last year's tournament at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

The 144th British Open tees off from the Old Course on July 16th.