Rory McIlroy believes Tiger Woods will try everything he can to return to play competitive golf after it was announced on Tuesday that the 15-time major winner was set to miss the Masters after rupturing his achilles.

‘It sucks,’ McIlroy said at TPC Sawgrass on Wednesday, when asked for his reaction to the devastating news about his good friend.

Woods had been preparing for his latest comeback in Florida when it is understood he had felt a ‘sharp pain’ in his left heel.

The 49-year-old told fans on social media that he had undergone surgery and was expected to make a full recovery.

‘He doesn’t have much luck when it comes to injuries and his body,’ McIlroy said.

‘Obviously, he was trying to ramp up to get ready for Augusta and achilles surgeries obviously aren’t fun.

‘[I’m] Hoping he’s in good spirits and hoping he’s doing okay.

Rory McIlroy backs Tiger Woods to make a return to competitive golf as he reacts to the 15-time major winner’s latest injury setback: ‘It sucks’

Rory McIlroy backs Tiger Woods to make a return to competitive golf as he reacts to the 15-time major winner’s latest injury setback: ‘It sucks’

Rory McIlroy backs Tiger Woods to make a return to competitive golf as he reacts to the 15-time major winner’s latest injury setback: ‘It sucks’

McIlroy added: ‘We obviously won’t see him play golf this year and hopefully we see him maybe play in 2026.’

Woods, a two-time champion at The Players, has not played at Tour-level since last year’s Open Championship at Royal Troon. Woods subsequently underwent surgery to remedy a back injury, having also had surgery on an ankle injury the year prior.

Last month, the five-time Masters winner withdrew from the Genesis Invitational following the passing of his mother in February.

Some suggestions had emerged over the past month that Woods could be set to make a comeback at Sawgrass this week but the 49-year-old was absent from the 144-player list when it was released last week.

He has featured on the TGL since then and is understood to have played in the Seminole Pro-Member competition last week.

McIlroy, meanwhile, backed his good friend to return from his latest injury setback and compete on the tour again.

‘He’ll try,’ the Northern Irishman said when asked whether he saw Woods coming back to competitive golf.

‘I know he’ll try. But that’s a question for him, not for me. I obviously don’t know what’s in his head.

Rory McIlroy backs Tiger Woods to make a return to competitive golf as he reacts to the 15-time major winner’s latest injury setback: ‘It sucks’

Rory McIlroy backs Tiger Woods to make a return to competitive golf as he reacts to the 15-time major winner’s latest injury setback: ‘It sucks’

Rory McIlroy backs Tiger Woods to make a return to competitive golf as he reacts to the 15-time major winner’s latest injury setback: ‘It sucks’

‘But judging by prior behaviour, he’ll definitely try.’

McIlroy had also spoken to Woods in recent months and revealed the American had been increasing his training load in recent months.

‘Well, he said he’d only touched a club three times or something, so I wouldn’t say he’d have been necessarily close,’ McIlroy said.

‘But he was obviously trying to get closer by ramping up and training and practising and doing whatever he was doing.

‘Yeah, I’d say he was trying to catch up on some lost time there.’

More to follow…