Tiger Woods’ participation in Masters can be ‘phenomenal’ for golf, Rory McIlroy says

As Tiger Woods decides whether or not to play in subsequent week’s Masters at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership, considered one of his rivals mentioned it will be phenomenal to have the 15-time main champion within the subject.

“I feel for golf and for the Masters event and for everybody, to have Tiger there can be phenomenal,” Rory McIlroy instructed reporters in San Antonio, the place he is competing on this week’s Valero Texas Open. “I feel it simply provides to the occasion. Clearly, it does. Something Tiger Woods does within the recreation of golf is heightened each time he is there. I imply, it will be superior for him to be there.”

McIlroy, a four-time main champion, was at Augusta Nationwide on Tuesday, when Woods performed 18 holes along with his son, Charlie, and PGA Tour professional Justin Thomas, his shut buddy.

“He was there [on Tuesday], clearly, and he is making an attempt to see what he can do,” McIlroy mentioned. “Clearly nobody is aware of however him if he could make it round and if he believes he can compete.”

Woods hasn’t performed in an official PGA Tour occasion in 500 days, since he final performed within the ultimate spherical of the 2020 Masters, which was held in November that 12 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He completed in a tie for 38th after capturing 4-over 76 within the ultimate spherical.

Woods, a five-time Masters champion, is listed among the many anticipated 91 individuals for subsequent week’s Masters, the primary main championship of the season. However he has but to formally say whether or not he is enjoying. It’s the 25th anniversary of his first Masters victory in 1997.

This would not be the primary time Woods has tried to return to Augusta Nationwide after an extended layoff. After a number of knee and again surgical procedures, Woods gained the 2019 Masters, his first main championship in 11 years.

If he is capable of play subsequent week, it will be much more spectacular. Woods suffered severe accidents to his proper leg and proper foot in a automobile wreck on Feb. 23, 2021. The SUV that he was driving crossed over two oncoming lanes, struck a curb and uprooted a tree on a downhill stretch in Rolling Hills Estates, simply outdoors Los Angeles. He was sporting a seatbelt, and officers discovered him nonetheless sitting within the SUV.

Woods was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Heart by ambulance. He had open fractures within the higher and decrease parts of the tibia and fibula in his proper leg. He instructed reporters on the Hero World Problem within the Bahamas in late November that medical doctors almost needed to amputate his proper leg.

“I’ve mentioned this so many occasions, however from mainly March of 2017, quick ahead two years and he wins the Masters, and the place he was along with his physique and what he needed to do to get again to being considerably wholesome,” McIlroy mentioned. “And it is not even being considerably wholesome, it is also what he has to do earlier than the spherical and after the spherical simply to get himself able to go and play golf.”

In December, Woods performed within the unofficial PNC Championship with Charlie. The 36-hole occasion was a scramble, and he was allowed to make use of a golf cart, however he did do some strolling.

“The sheer will and perseverance, yeah, it’s unimaginable,” McIlroy mentioned. “If he comes again from this once more, it is simply he likes to show folks fallacious, he likes to show himself fallacious, I feel. No matter when he does come again — whether or not it is subsequent week or a number of weeks, few months down the road — he is a beautiful addition to the sport. And the sport of golf is best when he is enjoying and when he is enjoying effectively.”