Tiger Woods last won a major title in 2008 and hasn’t won the Masters in a decade, but top-ranked Rory McIlroy will be watching out for him this week all the same, AFP reports.
The 79th Masters opens Thursday at Augusta National with McIlroy seeking his first green jacket and third major crown in a row to complete a career Grand Slam while Woods, who has fallen to 111th in the world rankings, contends for a 15th career major after a nightmare year of injuries and inconsistent form.
“I think everyone is just curious to see how he comes back,” McIlroy said of Woods, who has fallen to 111th in the world rankings. “I don’t think you should ever underestimate him. He has done things on the golf course that are pretty special.
“I had a good chat with him on the putting green. He feels good. He has been working hard. He has the motivation to keep at it, and just like everyone else, I’ll be looking for his score and seeing what he’s doing.”
Defending champion Bubba Watson can match Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only players to win back-to-back Masters crowns and match Nicklaus as the only ones to win three green jackets in a four-season span.
Factor in young stars seeking a first major win such as Jordan Spieth and Jason Day, sprinkle in some skilled past champions such as Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson and mix in the stunning backdrop of Augusta National’s treacherous greens and towering pines with the dramatic legacy of Amen Corner and Rae’s Creek and the scene is set for an impressive first major of 2015.
Latest Stories
-
Burnley score late to draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford
1 hour -
Bayer Leverkusen extend unbeaten run to 46 games after draw with Stuttgart
1 hour -
Chelsea come from two goals down to draw against Aston Villa
1 hour -
Andre Ayew scores in Le Havre’s 3-3 draw with PSG
1 hour -
GPL 2023/24: Kotoko draw with Medeama; Samartex go 7 points clear of Nations FC
2 hours -
Mahama cuts sod for construction of new multipurpose Jakpa palace in Damongo
2 hours -
NSS management assists Papao fire victims
2 hours -
EXPLAINER: Will dumsor end soon?
3 hours -
IMANI Africa takes on EC, accuses it of lying and publishing half truths
4 hours -
Manasseh Azure calls for investigation and prosecution of those responsible for GRA/SML contract
4 hours -
Kwesi Atuahene: Ghana’s health capital depends on HealthTech – Africa Center for Digital Transformation
4 hours -
13 signs your wife is planning on leaving you and you have no idea
4 hours -
IMANI Africa: Ghana’s EC’s dangerous and pathological conduct
5 hours -
If I speak there will be fire – Salah on Klopp row
6 hours -
Grieving after divorce is normal, but this particular kind of grief isn’t
6 hours