Rory McIlroy's thoughts on seeing Tiger Woods play a tournament in 2026? 'Maybe'
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Rory McIlroy believes Tiger Woods' season is over after the 15-time major champion announced he ruptured his left Achilles.
Woods underwent surgery Tuesday to repair the injury he sustained while training. McIlroy, who has been relatively injury free during his 18-year professional career, lamented Woods' "luck" when it comes to his health when asked Wednesday at TPC Sawgrass ahead of The Players Championship.
"It sucks," said McIlroy, who lives in Jupiter. "He doesn't have much luck when it comes to injuries and his body. 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."
The injury occurred as Woods was preparing to return to the PGA Tour. He underwent a minimally invasive tendon repair procedure Tuesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach. He has returned to his Jupiter Island home to focus on his recovery and rehab.
McIlroy and Woods have been linked recently for helping create TGL, the indoor golf league played in Palm Beach Gardens. While McIlroy's Boston Common Golf and Woods' Jupiter Links teams were the only two not to advance to the postseason in the league's inaugural season, McIlroy said Woods was trying to "catch up on some lost time" during the TGL season.
Woods has played sparingly the last year and was limited after back surgery in September. Since his mother, Kultida Woods, died Feb. 4, Woods played in four of Jupiter's five TGL matches, along with playing 18 holes with Donald Trump and at the Seminole pro-member at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach.
"I wouldn't say he'd have been necessarily close (to top form)," McIlroy said. "But he was obviously trying to get closer by ramping up and training and practicing and doing whatever he was doing. I'd say he was trying to catch up on some lost time there."
McIlroy has been relatively injury free during his 18-year professional career. His most significant injury occurred before the 2015 British Open when he ruptured a ligament in his left ankle while playing soccer with friends in Northern Ireland.
McIlroy was the No. 1 player in the world at the time and became the first defending champion to miss the British Open in 61 years. He was sidelined about two months.
Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
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