Rory McIlroy says he’s confident that Tiger Woods will return strongly from his latest injury setback. The 49-year-old golf legend ruptured his Achilles tendon during training and underwent surgery on Tuesday which rules him out for the entire season. Speaking ahead of The Players Championship, McIlroy stated that Woods’ injury “sucks” and that the 15-time Major champion “doesn’t have much luck when it comes to injuries and his body.
Woods’ Ongoing Battle with Injuries
Woods has battled injuries in the last few years and his latest setback came as he was increasing his training load in preparation for upcoming tournaments. Woods underwent a sixth back surgery in September 2024, and the last event he played was the Open at Royal Troon. Wood, who turns 50 in December, was scheduled to return last month at the Genesis Invitational but cancelled at the last minute after the death of his mother.
“Obviously he was trying to ramp up to get ready for Augusta, and Achilles surgeries obviously aren’t fun. Hoping he’s in good spirits and hoping he’s doing okay. We obviously won’t see him play golf this year, and hopefully we see him maybe play in 2026,” McIlroy told reporters.
McIlroy Offers Hint About His Future
McIlroy is gearing up for another shot at completing his career Grand Slam. The four-time Major winner who turns 36 in May, admits he doesn’t see himself playing golf until the age of 50. Unlike Woods, the Northern Irishman has a clear idea of how long he wants to play professional golf.
“I’m very happy to move aside for the younger generation to come through,” said McIlroy when asked about when he intends to bring his career to a close. “I look at other sports. I turned pro in 2007. I’m 18 years into a career. Not a lot of athletes can say they’ve had an 18-year career and I’m only 35. I can acknowledge how lucky golfers are to be able to do what they do for so long compared to other athletes, so whenever I feel like the time is right, I’ll have no problem moving aside and letting the next generation do their thing,” he added.
When asked about the exact timing of his retirement, Mcllroy said: “I think when I’ve achieved everything I want to achieve in the game and I get to the point where I don’t think I can maybe do that any more. I’d also like to walk away with a little bit left in the tank. I don’t want to be out there embarrassing myself. I’d like to walk away maybe a little before I should. Put it that way.”
“I will not play Champions Tour golf. I’ve said a lot of absolutes in my time that I’ve walked back but I do not envision playing Champions Tour golf. Something has gone terribly wrong if I have to compete at golf at 50.”
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