Tiger’s absence gives Irish a lift

Tiger Woods’s withdrawal from next week’s Masters could herald success for one of the three Irishmen competing at Augusta National.

Woods has contested 68 Majors since turning pro in September 2006, missing just four in that time — and on each of those occasions an Irishman has won the big prize.

Pádraig Harrington captured both the 2008 British Open and 2008 PGA Championship when Woods was sidelined with injury.

Then, in 2011, Woods was out injured when Rory McIlroy broke through to capture the US Open at Congressional and the American was still recovering a month later when Darren Clarke lifted the Claret Jug at Royal St George’s.

McIlroy and Clarke will be teeing-up at Augusta along with Graeme McDowell, while there have been calls for Harrington, who is no longer exempt, to be given a special invitation that would extend an unbroken run of 14 straight Augusta appearances.