Tiger Woods' participation in Masters would be 'phenomenal' for golf, Rory McIlroy says

As Tiger Woods decides whether to play in next week's Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, one of his competitors said it would be phenomenal to have the 15-time major champion in the field.

«I think for golf and for the Masters tournament and for everyone, to have Tiger there would be phenomenal,» Rory McIlroy told reporters in San Antonio, where he's competing in this week's Valero Texas Open. «I think it just adds to the event. Obviously, it does. Anything Tiger Woods does in the game of golf is heightened whenever he's there. I mean, it would be awesome for him to be there.»

McIlroy, a four-time major champion, was at Augusta National on Tuesday, when Woods played 18 holes with his son, Charlie, and PGA Tour pro Justin Thomas, his close friend.

«He was there [on Tuesday], obviously, and he's trying to see what he can do,» McIlroy said. «Obviously no one knows but him if he can make it around and if he believes he can compete.»

Woods hasn't played in an official PGA Tour event in 500 days, since he last played in the final round of the 2020 Masters, which was held in November that year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He finished in a tie for 38th after shooting 4-over 76 in the final round.

Woods, a five-time Masters champion, is listed among the expected 91 participants for next week's Masters, the first major championship of the season. But he's yet to officially say whether he's playing. It is the 25th anniversary of his first Masters victory in 1997.

This wouldn't be the first time Woods has attempted to return to Augusta National after a long layoff. After multiple knee and back surgeries, Woods won the 2019 Masters, his first major championship in 11 years.

If he's able to play next week, it would be even