Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington are adamant it would foolish to right off chances of Tiger Woods capturing a 15th Major Championship at next week’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
The Irish players were responding to recent comments, particularly those of double US Open winner Curtis Strange, who suggested Woods ‘would be lying to himself’ if he went into next week’s championship saying he could win.
Woods has contested just one event since undergoing back surgery and that was missing the halfway cut in the recent Quicken Loans National at Congressional.
The former long-time World No. 1 is returning to Royal Liverpool for a first time since capturing an emotional third (British) Open Championship and just weeks after the passing of his father and mentor, Earl.
Rory McIlroy joins Padraig Harrington in saying it would be foolish to right off Tiger Woods capturing next week’s Open Championship. (Photo – Fran Caffrey.www.golffile.ie)
“We have all witnessed what Tiger has been able to do over his career, whether that’s come back from injury and win, come back from any sort of off‑course stuff and win,” said McIlroy ahead of this week’s Scottish Open.
“I mean, he won the (2008) U.S. Open on one leg, really on one leg.
“So it is foolish for people to write him off? I would say so. If he’s playing and he’s competing, he’s got as good a chance as any.
“Also he wants to start to play, and he’s missed a good chunk of the season and wants to at least get into the FedExCup Playoffs and try and push for a Ryder Cup spot maybe.
“We’ll see what happens next week.
“But then I wouldn’t write him off completely. I still think he can do things that we have never seen from any other golfer. We’ll see what happens.”
And Harrington, who is a double Open winner, left no doubts in saying: “I don’t believe those comments and it would be a fool for anyone to think Tiger is not capable of winning any week he plays golf.
“The odds of him winning next week are not as high as 2006 when he won but for sure, he is one of the favourites with the bookies and the bookies don’t get it far wrong.”
McIlroy and Harrington along with Darren Clarke join defending champion Phil Mickelson as 10 Major winners teeing up on the Royal Aberdeen links gem.
