Rory McIlroy has vowed to honour the troubled Tiger Woods at the annual US Masters dinner always organised by the previous year’s winner.
Defending champion McIlroy, the subject of a just published book on his life and career, name checked Woods days before teeing off in defence of the title he won in a nail biting climax last year.
Woods is missing the Augusta National Masters after being arrested for suspected driving under the influence close to his Florida home last week. He is believed to have left for Switzerland for treatment.
Body camera footage of the Woods incident was released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office (Martin County Sheriff’s Office/AP) (AP)
“Unfortunately, there will be a couple of guys that won’t be in that room, which is a shame,” said Co Down native McIlroy, referring also to Phil Mickleson, missing the tournament due to health issues within his family.
“But I want to make sure that they’re acknowledged as well. They’ve been two of the greatest champions that the Masters has ever seen,” added McIlroy, who is bidding to be the first back to back Masters champion since Woods in 2001 and 2002.
The 36-year-old has chosen the menu and will host the dinner attended by all former living champions on the same day as a new book on his life is released.
Alan Shipnuck, author of ‘Rory’, believes the Holywood man could reach out to Tiger and make a difference in his life.
“And I hope he does because Tiger clearly needs that mentorship,” Shupnuck told The Irish Times.
‘Rory’ published on Tuesday
“They’re definitely not as close as they have been, but I think Rory might be the only person on the planet who could go knock on Tiger’s door and tell him some hard truths – because they are equals, they are peers.”
He added: “I honestly think if you could give Tiger truth serum and ask him if he would trade his life for Rory’s, he would do it in a heartbeat. Tiger might have more trophies, but Rory’s healthy, he’s happy and he’s universally respected.”
Shipnuck was the target of McIlroy’s anger over his writing of the book, revealing in the foreword that the golfer was “staring me down. His eyes were slits and his face twisted into a scowl. As soon as we made eye contact, he growled, ‘f**k off’. McIlroy took a couple of steps toward us and pointed his driver at me. ‘Seriously, f**k off.’”
McIlroy’s chosen menu for the Masters dinner
But the author told The Irish Times he later met McIlory, who said he “read the first chapter of the book. He said it made me laugh, it was good”.
“And you know, that chapter has some spicy material in it. I texted with his manager Sean O’Flaherty later, and he said Rory was still reading it. I didn’t write the book for Rory, I wrote it for golf fans, but it’s nice that he has good feelings about it. I’m pleased, I’ll say that,” Shipnuck said. McIlory never sat down for an interview.
The book also tackles business disputes, the LVIV-PGA stand off and one very public and dramatic upheaval in McIlroy’s private life, his break up from wife Erica Stoll, the filing of divorce papers and reunion, all within a few weeks in 2024.
He later told the Guardian the couple “realized that our best future was as a family together.” They share a 5-year-old daughter, Poppy.