Rory McIlroy has expressed his sympathy for Tiger Woods as he continues to be troubled by “debilitating” problems with his ailing back.
Woods has played only seven competitive rounds of golf since returning to the game after almost 16 months out following his third back surgery, and uncertainty clouds his future due to his fitness struggles.
The 41-year-old looked a shadow of his former self when he hacked his way to a torrid five-over 77 on the first day of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, and he then withdrew before starting his second round due to back spasms which struck overnight.
Woods pulled out of both the Genesis Open and this week’s Honda Classic, and he was even forced to cancel a scheduled press conference at Riviera last week on medical advice.
Pat Perez aired some strong opinions on the 14-time major champion on his PGA Tour radio show earlier this week, claiming Woods “knows he can’t beat anybody”.
In wide-ranging interview with The Guardian, McIlroy spoke of his own fitness struggles while also reflecting on his much-publicised round of golf with President Trump and giving his take on the current physical and mental plights
“I never thought I would say this but I felt sorry for him,” McIlroy told Ewan Murray. “I just felt bad for the guy that his body won’t allow him to do what he wants to do. I can’t imagine anything so debilitating where you can’t even stand up to do a press conference.
“Tiger was a child star, he was used to being out there winning golf tournaments since he was 10. I know that’s not what he values his life around but it must be hard to still want to do that but have it taken away because you can’t physically get to where you want to be. Obviously there is a physical battle there but there has to be a mental struggle as well.
“I’m glad that he has other things in his life. He has his kids and is so committed to them. If he didn’t have that it would be so hard. He is still young, he has another half of his life to live. Golf is minuscule compared to watching your kids grow up. That’s where my priority would be now.
“Playing tournament golf would be a bonus and awesome but life is more important than golf, which is what people have to remember when talking about Tiger Woods. Everyone sees him as a golfer, not a person. Tiger doesn’t owe anyone in the game. He has nothing to prove to anyone. I just hope he gets healthy and happy.”
Meanwhile, McIlroy remains on course to make his return to action at the WGC-Mexico Championship next week following a patient rehabilitation from the rib injury that flared up in South Africa in January.
The 27-year-old defied the pain of a stress fracture to finish tied at the top of the leaderboard before losing out to veteran Graeme Storm in a play-off, and his recovery has been a patient process as well as a period of frustration watching rivals Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson both winning on the PGA Tour.
“I felt useless. I couldn’t even lift my suitcase,” said McIlroy, whose overriding priority is to avoid risking further injury ahead of the Masters in early April. “I could have probably pushed through to play the Honda Classic, but I wanted to take that extra week to make sure and, even if it comes to the point where I’m not 100 per cent comfortable, I’ll take another couple of weeks off. But I’m on target for Mexico.
“It has been frustrating; you see Jordan Spieth win, Dustin Johnson win and it is never good to feel like you are falling behind. You feel like if you were out there, you might be able to do something about it.
“My short game is as sharp as it has ever felt because that was all I could work on for a while. My golf should be sharp enough. The big concern is just making sure I can play four rounds in a row without doing any damage again.
“I still have tournaments to get ready for Augusta, which is the biggest tournament of my year, and I’ve no problem saying that. It’s the one major I’m yet to win. As long as I’m good for that, I don’t care what it takes. That’s my main goal and it will continue as my main goal until I win it.”
