Blockbuster.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will take the next steps in their respective returns to competitive golf together. The duo have been drawn in the same group at this week’s Genesis Open, with world number four Justin Thomas rounding out the marquee trio.
Woods is making just his third appearance following a year-long lay-off, having played at the Hero World Challenge in December and January’s Farmers Insurance Open, while McIlroy is playing stateside for just the second time in five months after missing the cut at last week’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Woods, 42, said he is relishing the prospect of playing with the Holywood native for the first time since the final round of the 2015 Masters. On that occasion, McIlroy carded a 66 to Woods’ 73 but the 14-time major winner is hoping for a much tighter battle this time around.
“At Augusta we were paired together not too long ago but again, we were a little bit off the pace. Maybe we can both play well and peak at the right time.”
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Woods had some lovely things to say about McIlroy, though, lavishing the 28-year-old with effusive praise ahead of going to battle on Thursday.
“He’s just a great kid, he really is,” Woods said.”He’s got a heart of gold and his dad is fantastic. Mom’s wonderful. So it’s just a great family. I’ve loved playing with Rory over the years. We haven’t played, unfortunately, as much as we would like. A lot of that is me because I got hurt and didn’t play.
“But he’s obviously gotten much better, worked on his game and won tournaments while I’ve been out. Rory has always been fun to play with, will continue to be. He’s one of those players that when he gets it going, there are not a whole lot of guys better than him.
It’s hard to disagree with Woods’ assessment. In recent seasons, McIlroy has been surpassed by Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and, most recently, exciting Spaniard Jon Rahm in the rankings. In spite of that, there is a general acceptance that, when he’s on song, few can match McIlroy’s deadly combination of gargantuan power and sublime ball-striking. When he ‘gets it going,’ he is a joy to behold. The key for him is getting more putts to drop but, on the evidence of second and third-placed finishes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively, it feels as though he’s close.
While Woods, McIlroy and Thomas will attract the lion’s share of the crowd at Riviera over the first two days, it will be by no means the only star-studded trio on the course. World number one and defending champion Dustin Johnson will play with two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson and Adam Scott, while Race to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood has the distinguished American pairing of Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar for company.
Offaly’s Shane Lowry is playing with Jimmy Walker and Charley Hoffman, Padraig Harrington is grouped with Pat Perez and James Hahn, Graeme McDowell tees it up alongside the brilliantly-named Smylie Kaufman and Luke Donald.
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