Bullish Rory ready to dominate new era

Rory McIlroy believes the absence of Tiger Woods from next week’s Masters is an opportune time for him to lead a new dominance in world golf.

McIlroy got his first look at Augusta National in a year after playing practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday on the famed Georgia golfing gem.

And it came as no surprise to him on Tuesday to learn Woods had withdrawn from the season’s opening Major Championship: “Hearing Tiger had pulled out did not come as a shock,” said McIlroy on the eve of today’s Shell Houston Open.