The news of Tiger Woods' return to the Masters next week has the victory bells ringing as far away as Europe.
For Rory McIlroy.
European Ryder Cup captain likes Rory McIlroy's Masters chances if Tiger Woods plays
Woods' return means that the focus at the Masters - at least for the first two days - will be on the former No. 1 golfer in the world trying to recapture past glory. That means that the current No. 1 can fly under the radar at Augusta - as much as a No. 1 player can.
Woods is seeking his fifth Green Jacket when he tees up at the Masters. But he has not played competitively since mid-February when he withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open after 11 holes, citing a lower-back injury. He took a self-imposed hiatus, vowing not to return until he felt he was "tournament-ready," which he revealed on his website.
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Meanwhile, McIlroy is trying to become only the sixth player in golf history to complete the career Grand Slam. That was going to be the underlying theme of the 2015 Masters - until Tiger crashed the party.
And according to British media, that suits McIlroy just fine.
"Just when Rory McIlroy thought things could not get any better as he heads to Augusta National on Sunday to register for the 79th Masters, the news of Tiger Woods' dramatic reappearance can have only added to his contentment," a report in the Daily Mail began.
"Woods will now be the headline story in the build-up for the vast majority of the American media and that can only help McIlroy in his historic attempt to join Tiger and just four other golfers who have completed the career Grand Slam."
The Daily Mail cited "the limelight's foreboding glare" over McIlroy that has prompted him to practice in seclusion for the Masters in Southern Florida.
The Telegraph concurs about Woods' impact on McIlroy's Masters hopes.
"Tell the world No 1, the Northern Irishman on a Masters mission to become just the sixth player in history to win the career grand slam, that it does not matter if Woods plays or not. He would laugh so hard a few azalea heads would fall off.
For McIlroy it matters. It will not be all on him now. The lenses, at least for the first few days, will be trained elsewhere. No, McIlroy will not be able "fly under the radar", but at least with all the hoopla going on around him he will not be trying to stay tranquil like an air traffic controller in holiday season. During the build-up, McIlroy will be able to go about his business with much less intensity."
Time will tell if the British media are right, and McIlroy has his career milestone.
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