Tiger’s exile is bad for golf, says McIlroy

THE longer Tiger Woods turns his back on golf the worse it will be for the professional game.

Woods has not been sighted on a golf course since capturing last November’s Australian Masters in Melbourne after admitting to a string of extra-marital affairs.

With the 2010 US Tour season entering its third week, most talk centres on when Woods will make his return.

McIlroy is starting his second full season as a pro in this week’s €1.5m Abu Dhabi Championship, an event in which he finished fifth last year before capturing the Dubai Desert Classic.

Woods has already pulled out of the latter tournament leaving the 20-year-old former Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Star wondering when he will get the chance to square off against the embattled American.

McIlroy said: “You can only beat who is in front of you. In the short term it’ll be OK for golf that Tiger’s absent but the longer he’s away, the worse that it’ll be.”

Whenever Woods does return, McIlroy senses the American will be more ‘fragile’ than prior to revelations about his private life.

“I suppose it could make it a little easier to play against him when he comes back because at least he’s a little more fragile than he used to be,” said McIlroy.

“I always viewed Tiger as a great golfer. Whenever I was watching him on TV, I didn’t care what he as like as a person. He was just an awesome golfer. He’s still a great golfer in everyone’s eyes and it’s just that he’s run into a bit of difficulty. But as soon as he does come back, we can get all this debacle over and done with and we can get back to concentrating on Tiger playing great golf as he always does.”

McIlroy has spent the 10 days acclimatising for the start of his new season in nearby Dubai where he’s been practicing at the Els Club.

And after losing to Lee Westwood in last season’s Dubai World Championship final, McIlroy would like nothing better than the New Year’s gift of being handed the gleaming Abu Dhabi Championship ‘falcon’ trophy.

“I’ve come here for the start of my new season refreshed but also with still a tinge of disappointment after losing out to Lee last year,” he said.

“But it was a great season, and it was a long season, as well. So it was lovely to go home, spend time with Holly, Mum and Dad, the dog and just chill out. I went to a lot of rugby matches. But really I was just chilling out. There was also so much snow about so it was building snowmen and having snowball fights. Aside from a few balls I hit in the garden I didn’t hit a ball for five weeks, which was good for me. To get away from it for awhile refreshes you and your interest.”

McIlroy commences his year ranked 10th in the world and bids to move up five places this season.

“I want to try win more this year and multiple wins anywhere in the world would be nice.

“If I can achieve that then that would help my goal of top-five in the world.

“I got a taste of getting in contention at the USPGA Championship last year, but I feel I’m a more experienced player that I was then.

“Those experiences should help me this year in the Majors.”

Meantime Shane Lowry arrived in Abu Dhabi sporting a sparkling new Srixon bag after switching from Titleist and the one he took into last year’s Irish Open success.