McIlroy: Tiger playing at Masters would be 'phenomenal'

Rory McIlroy says he would love to see Tiger Woods playing in next week's Masters, even though that would make it tougher for him to complete a career Grand Slam.

"It would be awesome for him to be there," McIlroy said Wednesday.

The four-time major champion from Northern Ireland is among those playing this week's US PGA Texas Open at TPC San Antonio as a final tuneup for the year's first major tournament at Augusta National.

Woods, who suffered severe right leg injuries in a February 2021 car crash, played an 18-hole practice round at Augusta National on Tuesday, testing his fitness to compete for his sixth Masters crown.

Woods has not played since the 2020 Masters, moved to November due to Covid-19. He has spent 13 months rehabilitating from the crash, saying he was fortunate to still be alive and not to have had his leg amputated, but given no timetable for when he might return.

McIlroy, who needs only a Masters green jacket to complete a career Grand Slam, would love that comeback to be next week in the Georgia pines.

"I think for golf and for the Masters tournament and for everyone, to have Tiger there would be phenomenal," McIlroy said. "It just adds to the event. Anything Tiger Woods does in the game of golf is heightened whenever he's there.

"He was there yesterday and he's trying to see what he can do. Obviously no one knows but him if he can make it around and if he believes he can compete."

Woods, 46, already completed one of the greatest comeback stories in sport by winning the 2019 Masters for his 15th career major title and first since the 2008 US Open.

After multiple back surgeries, Woods feared he might never recover for a normal life, but a microdiscectomy enabled him to return to competition strong enough to win