Rory McIlroy hopes 'hero' Tiger Woods gets another Open Championship shot on Old Course at St Andrews

Rory McIlroy insists the whole of golf is pulling for Tiger Woods and is hopeful he gets another shot at the Open Championship at St Andrews. Woods returned to the scene of two of his three Claret Jug wins for the 150th Open, and had hopes of contending 18 months on from the car crash in which he nearly lost a leg. Ad/> Despite the positive talk, it turned out to be a damp squib as Woods started with a 78 and finished well below the cut line at nine-over.

The OpenOpen Championship golf 2022 LIVE updates – Smith leads as McIlroy joins chase for Claret Jug6 HOURS AGO He was handed a huge ovation walking up the 18th on the Old Course, which drew tears from the 15-time major winner. McIlroy was on the adjacent fairway just starting his round and doffed his cap to his ‘close’ friend. He hopes Woods gets another chance to experience an Open at St Andrews.

«I've gotten pretty close to Tiger over these last few years,” McIlroy said. “And especially after the accident, and I think we've all sort of rallied around him down there in Jupiter (Woods’ home in Florida). “We all want to see him do well.

He was all our hero growing up, even though I'm maybe a touch older than some of the other guys. But we want to see him do well. “We want to see him still out there competing.

And this week was obviously a tough week for him. But we're all behind him. We're all pulling for him.” Smith posts record-breaking score as McIlroy remains in the hunt 'It gave me goosebumps' — Fitzpatrick stunned by ovation for Tiger on 18th The Open is not set to return to St Andrews until 2027 at the earliest, and Woods said following his round that he may not be back at the Old Course.