Rumours proceed to swirl round Tiger Woods and his future after an surprising improvement put the golf world on discover.
Rory McIlroy says he would like to see Tiger Woods taking part in in subsequent week’s Masters, regardless that that might make it more durable for him to finish a profession Grand Slam.
“It might be superior for him to be there,” McIlroy mentioned Wednesday.
The four-time main champion from Northern Eire is amongst these taking part in this week’s US PGA Texas Open at TPC San Antonio as a last tune-up for the yr’s first main event at Augusta Nationwide.
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Woods, who suffered extreme proper leg accidents in a February 2021 automobile crash, performed an 18-hole apply spherical at Augusta Nationwide on Tuesday, testing his health to compete for his sixth Masters crown.
Woods has not performed for the reason that 2020 Masters, moved to November as a result of Covid-19. He has spent 13 months rehabilitating from the crash, saying he was lucky to nonetheless be alive and to not have had his leg amputated, however given no timetable for when he would possibly return.
McIlroy, who wants solely a Masters inexperienced jacket to finish a profession Grand Slam, would love that comeback to be subsequent week within the Georgia pines.
“I believe for golf and for the Masters event and for everybody, to have Tiger there could be phenomenal,” McIlroy mentioned. “It simply provides to the occasion. Something Tiger Woods does within the sport of golf is heightened every time he’s there.
“He was there yesterday and he’s attempting to see what he can do. Clearly nobody is aware of however him if he could make it round and if he believes he can compete.”
Woods, 46, already accomplished one of many best comeback tales in sport by successful the 2019 Masters for his fifteenth profession main title and first for the reason that 2008 US Open.
After a number of again surgical procedures, Woods feared he would possibly by no means get well for a standard life, however a microdiscectomy enabled him to return to competitors robust sufficient to win a significant and match Sam Snead for the all-time US PGA win file with 82 profession titles.
Rumours are swirling that Woods will compete at Augusta once more this yr, and the hypothesis solely intensified after his newest apply spherical.
ESPN and Sports activities Illustrated, citing unnamed sources, mentioned Woods flew to and from Georgia on his personal jet to see how effectively he might stroll the hilly format solely 13 months after his horrific accident.
Whereas saying he plans to return to event play on a restricted foundation, the 15-time main champion has given no timetable for when he would possibly subsequent play competitively.
Requested if something Woods does can shock him, McIlroy replied, “Yeah, every little thing … from principally March of 2017 quick ahead two years and he wins the Masters and the place he was together with his physique and what he needed to do to get again to being considerably wholesome.
“The sheer will and perseverance, it’s unimaginable. If he comes again from this once more, it’s simply, he likes to show individuals fallacious. He likes to show himself fallacious, I believe.”
McIlroy, whose finest Masters displaying was fourth in 2015, will welcome Woods again every time he does return.
“No matter when he does come again, whether or not it’s subsequent week or just a few weeks, few months down the road, he’s an exquisite addition to the sport,” McIlroy mentioned. “Golf is best when he’s taking part in and when he’s taking part in effectively.”
McIlroy, a 2013 runner-up in his solely prior Texas Open begin, received his twentieth US PGA title final October on the CJ Cup in Las Vegas.
He mentioned undulations on the San Antonio greens may also help put together gamers for the distinctive problem provided at Augusta Nationwide.
“I simply wished to combine it up and I nonetheless wished to really feel like I used to be sharp going into Augusta,” McIlroy mentioned. “It’s a extremely good information to see the place my sport is, particularly for those who’re having to hit pictures underneath stress to attempt to win.”
McIlroy, who performed a few apply rounds this week at Augusta Nationwide, wasn’t sad to alter his routine within the days earlier than the Masters.
“I’d simply be taking part in at house and practising,” he mentioned. “One of many nice issues about taking part in the week earlier than is you’re staying busy.
“Generally being idle at house you possibly can overthink issues, so to maintain your self busy and maintain your thoughts on one thing else is an effective factor.”
Initially revealed as Swirling rumours of Tiger Woods’ Masters return intensify even additional