Rory McIlroy

McIlroy confirmed that Woods played a practice round at hilly Augusta National to see if he could "make it around 18" during the Masters next week.

“Regardless of when he does come back — whether it’s next week or a few weeks, a few months down the line — he’s a wonderful addition to the game,” McIlroy said. If Woods does play, he will be expected to show the effects of his long layoff from top-flight golf, but he also would be playing on a course he knows better than most of his competitors. He has participated in the Masters 23 times, starting in 1995 as an amateur, and this year represents the 25th anniversary of his runaway win in 1997. He is listed on the Masters website as an entrant and can wait until it tees off to withdraw, if he so chooses. “It looks like he’s testing himself, and that is a good thing,” ESPN analyst Curtis Strange said of Woods to reporters Wednesday (via pgatour.com). “How else would you test yourself, other than to go walk and play and get up there, play some practice rounds and see if you can walk the golf course? Woods hasn’t competed in a PGA Tour event since the pandemic-delayed 2020 Masters was held in November of that year.

McIlroy faces his latest chance to join one of the most exclusive clubs in sports history.

If Tiger Woods plays his first competitive event in 17 months at Augusta next week, the only storyline that could feasibly usurp it -- outside of the president of the United States parachuting in on the first tee on Thursday morning to hit a ceremonial tee shot -- is whoever wins Sunday evening. I do think if Tiger's in the field, he's kind of quietly coming to Augusta without all the fanfare and without the questions and expectations." And even then, most of the field -- if they were to win -- wouldn't qualify as a storyline that could outrank the Woods comeback. On Wednesday, he explained why he skipped the WGC-Dell Match Play last week and opted for Texas instead as he builds for next Thursday. At 32, he's certainly not old and will have several more looks at a Masters win, but he's also starting to enter the territory at Augusta where few players have won their first Masters. This year's event will be McIlroy's 14th. Only Billy Casper (14th attempt), Mark O'Meara (15th) and Sergio Garcia (19th) have won their first green jacket after this many tries at the Masters. For the most part, my game feels good, so it was just a case of just continuing to do what I've been doing over the last couple weeks." It's clear that your approach game has to be locked in throughout the week (see below), and that's an area where McIlroy has sometimes struggled. In 2014 and 2015, he shot a 40 on one of the nines in the middle of his tournament. In 2013, McIlroy finished second at the Texas Open the week before the Masters and went on to post a T25 that remains one of his worst outings ever at Augusta National. In 2018, he found himself in the final pairing with Patrick Reed on Sunday and stumbled his way to a 74 after three straight rounds under par. Since then, he's gone on a tear at Augusta. From 2014-20, McIlroy finished in the top 10 six times across seven events before running out of juice last year when he missed the cut.

Rory McIlroy says when he visited Tiger Woods it did not look possible he would be playing The Masters.

"He's doing everything he can to see if he can play... Everyone would love to see him there regardless. It would be a monumental achievement." "If he plays or doesn't play, if he goes to the champions' dinner, or plays the par-3, whatever it is, having Tiger Woods around the game again is great for all of us. "Walking 18 at Medalist is not like walking 18 at Augusta, so, y'know, he's being very conservative but he's doing everything he can to see if he can play. Rory McIlroy says when he visited Tiger Woods it did not look possible he would be playing The Masters.

Rory McIlroy believes Tiger Woods playing at next week's Masters would be “phenomenal” for the game of golf.

I just wanted to mix it up and I’m glad to be back.” “He was there yesterday, obviously, and he’s trying to see what he can do. I think it just adds to the event,” said McIlroy.

Rory McIlroy has been speaking about his Masters preparation as he bids for the Grand Slam.

"Obviously there's some changes to the golf course on 11 and 15. I just wanted to come and see the golf course. McIlroy said when asked if he had changed anything this year with regard to his preparations: "Yeah, I mean, a little bit, I guess. He was in sensational form. "So yeah, it's way different. "I just wanted to go there and just see that for myself and sort of do a little bit of a scouting trip that I haven't really done the last couple years.

More than a year on from a life-threatening car crash, Tiger Woods is closing in on a potential comeback appearance at The Masters that Rory McIlroy has ...

McIlroy spent two days preparing at Augusta National this week and has decided to play the Valero Texas Open before his eighth attempt to complete his career Grand Slam at the Masters. He missed the cut last year. I think it just adds to the event. And he has not played on the PGA Tour since the defence of his Masters title in November 2020.

THE Masters green jacket remains elusive for Rory McIlroy, having endured some agonising near-misses at Augusta National down the years.

I just wanted to come and see the golf course.” “I haven't really enjoyed the format of the Match Play the last couple of years and I just wanted to mix it up and I still wanted to feel like I was sharp going into Augusta,” McIlroy said. “It's chalk and cheese,” McIlroy said when comparing his ongoing run in 2022 to last year.

A return to golf for Tiger Woods at the Masters next week would be "phenomenal," says Rory McIlroy.

"Regardless of when he does come back -- whether it's next week or a few weeks, few months down the line -- he's a wonderful addition to the game. "He was there yesterday obviously and he's trying to see what he can do. "I think it just adds to the event.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – MARCH 12: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits a drive at the seventh hole during the weather delayed completion of the second ...

With the winter break behind him, McIlroy has burst out of the gate and it would be hard to picture him being anywhere near the cut-line next weekend. While Mcilroy did miss the cut last year, he has seven finishes inside the top-10 to his name, and most impressively a T5 back in 2020. While his Valero Texas Open open bid may not be off to the flashiest of starts, Rory McIlroy has every chance of completing a career grand slam this weekend, something that has evaded the 32-year-old up to this point.

More than a year on from a life-threatening car crash, Tiger Woods is closing in on a potential comeback appearance at The Masters that Rory McIlroy has ...

McIlroy spent two days preparing at Augusta National this week and has decided to play the Valero Texas Open before his eighth attempt to complete his career Grand Slam at the Masters. He missed the cut last year. I think it just adds to the event. And he has not played on the PGA Tour since the defence of his Masters title in November 2020.

Rory McIlroy shot level-par in the first round of the Valero Texas Open as he begins his preparation for The Masters next week.

McIlroy will be looking for his game to peak this week ahead of The Masters which begins on April 7. Much like his first nine, McIlroy made three birdies and three bogeys on his second nine to finish with a 72. Both players have work to do to move up the leaderboard. He almost made a highlight reel eagle on the par-4 17th hole. The Northern Irishman birdied three of his next four holes, but he made his third bogey of the day on th 18th hole as he made the turn. Rory McIlroy shot level-par in the first round of the Valero Texas Open as he begins his preparation for The Masters next week.

Rory McIlroy (file photo). Image: Joe Robbins. RORY MCILROY HIT a 72 to finish level-par after the first round of the Valero Texas Open, while Graeme ...

His form continued to be mixed on his back nine, summed up by the finish that saw him birdie the 8th and bogey the 9th. McDowell was two-over after his front nine and was unable to make inroads on his back nine, but a bogey on the 15th was followed by a closing boost with a birdie on the 18th. His round began on the 10th with McIlroy recording two early bogeys before picking up three shots between the 14th and 17th holes, and then rounding off his front nine with a bogey on the 18th.

There are many PGA Tour pros playing in the Valero Texas Open with the main goal of getting their game into shape for next week's Masters.

We're guessing it was a bit more annoying for gamblers betting on Hojgaard to have the first-round lead. "Had I think 133 meters to the flag, just was a little too aggressive with that shot. Surrounding that was pure chaos as he made five bogeys, two birdies, and the only eagle of the day on the par-5 second. He will probably need to do better that on Friday if he's to make the cut. "I didn't feel like I hit that bad of a tee shot and I had to chip sideways back into the fairway," Hojgaard said. Rory McIlroy is one of those working on specific aspects of his game ahead of the Masters, but his irons clearly needs more work if he's going to win that elusive green jacket. "It would be the biggest bonus of the year obviously if that happened, but no, I'm quite happy to sit on the couch with my dog next week, too," Knox said. And now Rasmus has his eyes on a first PGA Tour title after opening with a 66. McIlroy was in the middle of the pack, barely in positive territory in strokes gained/putting. And he missed two par attempts from inside of five feet. I know it's never going to be perfect, but the last couple months it's really been a strength of mine again." Knox shot a bogey-free 65 on Thursday to grab the Day 1 lead. "Over the last couple years just kind of got off track slightly, was hitting a few wayward tee shots," Knox said.

Rory McIlroy and Leona Maguire endured roller-coaster days, but the Co Cavan star kept her title hopes very much alive in the US.

“This is obviously the more scoreable of the two courses, so I knew I had to shoot a decent score today,” Dunne said. Kupcho and Lee shot six-under 66s to lead by two shots from Anna Nordqvist, Caroline Masson and Pajaree Anannarukarn as world number one Jin Young Ko struggled to a two-over 74. On the Challenge Tour, Paul Dunne fired six birdies in a bogey-free 66 at Koro Creek Golf Club to lie just a shot off the lead in the Limpopo Championship.

Rory McIlroy is seven shots off the lead after a mixed opening round at the Valero Texas Open, with Graeme McDowell two strokes further back.

McDowell started on the front nine which featured three bogeys and a birdie, before another bogey on 15 and a birdie on par-4 17th. Birdies on the second and fifth sandwiched consecutive bogeys and he finished his round by picking up a shot on the eighth before immediately dropping another on the ninth. McIlroy made a slow start with bogeys on the 11th and 13th before rallying with a trio of birdies in his next four holes, including on the 17th which saw him almost make an eagle.

Six birdies, the same number of bogeys and another six pars left Rory McIlroy right back where he started the day after the opening round of the Valero ...

The Holywood man found himself two over after four holes of his round but responded well with three birdies to get under par. On its way: Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the 15th tee in San Antonio. Credit: Getty Images On its way: Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the 15th tee in San Antonio. Credit: Getty Images

The 2022 Masters will tee off next week and the significant event in the golfing calendar attracts the best stars and opens the door for a shot at the.

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