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Tiger Woods competing at Masters would be ‘phenomenal’ for golf, Rory McIlroy says
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Because the golf world holds its breath awaiting the doable return of Tiger Woods to the 2022 Masters, certainly one of his rivals mentioned Wednesday having the five-time champion again within the fold can be nice for the game.
Rory McIlroy, a four-time main champion, was at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership Tuesday, the identical day Woods arrived together with his son, Charlie, to seemingly gauge how his physique reacts to strolling the hilly course, Sports activities Illustrated reported.
“I believe for golf and for the Masters event and for everybody, to have Tiger there can be phenomenal,’’ McIlroy mentioned at TPC San Antonio, the place he is competing on this week’s Valero Texas Open. “I believe it simply provides to the occasion. Clearly, it does.”
Tiger Woods of the U.S. (proper) shakes arms with Rory McIlroy of Northern Eire on the first gap tee at a “Japan Skins” pre-match forward of the ZOZO Championship golf event on the Narashino Nation Membership in Inzai, Chiba prefecture Oct. 21, 2019.
(Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
“Something Tiger Woods does within the recreation of golf is heightened at any time when he is there. I imply, it might be superior for him to be there,” McIlroy added. “You understand, he was there yesterday clearly, and he is making an attempt to see what he can do. Clearly, nobody is aware of however him if he could make it round and suppose if he believes he can compete.”
McIlroy, who watched Woods’ efficiency on the 1997 Masters, referred to as the 46-year-old golfer his “inspiration.”
Rory McIlroy of Northern Eire tees off on the second gap in the course of the remaining spherical of the Genesis Invitational golf event at Riviera Nation Membership Feb. 20, 2022, within the Pacific Palisades space of Los Angeles.
(AP Picture/Ryan Kang)
“I believe everybody would love to include a few of Tiger Woods’ recreation into their very own. I believe that goes with out saying. Yeah, he was my inspiration, and I definitely tried to mannequin a part of my recreation off him,” McIlroy mentioned throughout an interview printed this month by Golf Month-to-month.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Woods continues to be listed as a participant within the Masters after he was injured in a February 2021 automotive crash. Woods has not been included within the group of previous champions who had been sitting out. Nonetheless, that might change as golfers have till event week to resolve if they’re taking part in.
“This can be a essential week for @tigerwoods to see if his physique can maintain 72 holes at Augusta Nationwide,” Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis wrote on Twitter Monday. “He’ll exhaust each effort to play @TheMasters.”
TIGER WOODS 2022 MASTERS SPECULATION GROWS AS GOLFER ARRIVES AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL: REPORT
Woods has but to play in a aggressive PGA Tour occasion since he suffered traumatic leg accidents in a single-car accident in late February 2021. In December, Woods competed with Charlie on the PNC Championship, although he did use a cart. After the event, Tiger pumped the brakes on a possible return.
Tiger Woods reacts together with his son Charlie Woods on the sixteenth inexperienced in the course of the first spherical of the PNC Championship golf event Dec. 18, 2021, in Orlando, Fla.
(AP Picture/Scott Audette)
Following months of restoration, Woods once more rebuffed the notion that his return was coming quickly throughout an interview with Jim Nantz on the Riviera Nation Membership late final month.
“I do not know,” mentioned Woods. “I can hit balls. The exhausting half is definitely strolling; that is going to take a while. I will must put within the effort and time at residence and do all of the seashore walks and stroll golf programs.”
Woods has made 23 profession begins within the Masters, the place he has 14 top-10 finishes. He placed on his first Inexperienced Jacket in 1997 at age 21, and once more throughout a profession comeback in 2019 at age 43.
“I’ve mentioned this so many occasions, however from principally March of 2017 fast-forward two years, and he wins the (2019) Masters and the place he was together with his physique and what he needed to do to get again to being considerably wholesome,” McIlroy mentioned.
Woods additionally gained the Masters in 2001, 2002, and 2005. He final performed within the golf event in 2020.
The occasion is scheduled to start April 7. Hideki Matsuyama is the defending champion.