Rory McIlroy has mentioned that Tiger Woods stays his “hero” and hailed the American for taking golf to a “new level”.
The Northern Irishman has solid a detailed friendship with the 15-time main winner, with the pair partnering to type sports activities leisure enterprise TMRW Sports.
McIlroy and Woods have been grouped collectively on the Genesis Open because the 47-year-old prepares to make his return to the course for the primary time since final summer season’s Open at St Andrews.
Speaking in Netflix’s new Full Swing documentary, McIlroy hailed Woods for the function he performed in his personal improvement, in addition to within the sport extra extensively.
“I was obsessed with golf and when Tiger came on the scene, I just remember watching Tiger play golf on Sunday nights, because of the time difference,” McIlroy defined. “He sort of took it to a new level. He still is my hero and to a lot of people he is golf.
“I feel fortunate for the relationship we have, but ever since then I just… all I wanted to do was be like him. I was a cocky and arrogant kid, I told anybody who would listen I’d be the best golfer in the world.
“I’ve got to know Tiger well over the last decade. He’s one of the legends of the game. There’ll never be another Tiger for so many reasons. Not just his success on the golf course, but the barriers he was able to break down.
“He’s set a great example for a lot of us moving forward.”
Justin Thomas completes a star-studded three-ball of main winners for the opening two rounds at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.
Woods has not performed a non-major PGA Tour occasion since October 2020 having been hospitalised in early 2021 after a automotive crash.
Despite issues over his health, the five-time Masters champion has insisted that he’s “playing to win” the Genesis Invitational, which begins on Thursday.
Woods’ stint away from common appearances on the Tour has coincided with the arrival of the breakaway LIV Golf collection, which has precipitated vital battle between defectors and critics of the Saudi-backed occasions.
McIlroy has emerged as a distinguished, unofficial spokesperson for the PGA Tour, and Woods praised the Northern Irishman’s work throughout a “turbulent” 12 months.
“The past year since, if you go back to this week at Genesis last year to where it’s at now, we all have to say it’s been very turbulent,” mentioned Woods.
“We never would have expected the game of golf to be in this situation, but it is, that’s the reality, and I was alluding to trying to create the best product.
“Obviously, they’re a competitive organization trying to create their best product they possibly can, and we’re trying to create the best product that we think the future of golf, how it should be played.
“It’s been an ebb and flow, it really has. And it’s been difficult, there’s no lie. You’ve seen our ambassador, Rory, go through it. It’s been tough on him, but he’s been exceptional.
“To be able to go through all that, I’ve been with him on all those conference calls and side meetings, and for him to go out there and play and win, it’s been incredible.”