McIlroy: 'We Should Be Grateful Woods' Kids Haven't Lost Their Dad'

The four-time Major winner shared his thoughts on Tiger Woods' horrific car crash

McIlroy: 'We Should Be Grateful Woods' Kids Haven't Lost Their Dad'
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The four-time Major winner shared his thoughts on Tiger Woods' horrific car crash

McIlroy: 'We Should Be Grateful Woods' Kids Haven't Lost Their Dad'

Rory McIlroy has reacted to the news of Tiger Woods' car crash, saying that we should be grateful that he is still alive and his kids haven't lost their father.

The 15-time Major winner has severely fractured his leg and foot in the crash, which the police said he is "very fortunate" to have survived.

McIlroy says that golf is far from the equation right now and also thinks that some media coverage was talking as if Woods died.

"He's not Superman. He's a human being at the end of the day," Rory said after being asked if Woods is the one person who can come back from such terrible injuries.

"And he's already been through so much.

"At this stage I think everyone should just be grateful that he's here, that he's alive, that his kids haven't lost their dad.

"That's the most important thing.

"Golf is so far from the equation right now, it's not even on the map at this point."

Related: 'Woods' Rehab Will Take 1-2 Years' - Foot and Ankle Surgeon

Rory doesn't think it will be any more difficult playing in the tournament this week, the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession, and concedes that some media may have gone over-the-top in talking about Woods like he "was gone."

"I don't think so. I mean, he's here, he's fine," the four-time Major winner said.

"He's got some pretty bad injuries, but he's going to be okay.

"I was looking at some of the coverage yesterday and they were talking as if he was gone.

"It's like, he was in a car crash. It was really bad, he's very fortunate to be here, which is great, but I mean, that's the extent of it.

"So no. Of course we're all going to play a golf tournament and seem no different.

"It's obviously going to take a bunch of attention away from this golf tournament, but that's nothing to do with us, that doesn't fall on us, and we don't really feel that when we're playing anyway.

McIlroy also says he questions the idea of 'paying tribute' to Woods as the American is still alive.

"Like you say "pay tribute to him." He's not gone," the Northern Irishman said.

"Like he's been in a very bad accident. We're very lucky that he's still here.

"I feel like we should pay tribute to him every day for being on the PGA Tour and what he's done for golf.

Related: What is Tiger Woods' net worth?

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV