Rory McIlroy: Tiger Woods ‘is not Superman’ - he’ll impact golf even if he can’t play again

Rory McIlroy has urged caution against hope of another miraculous comeback from Tiger Woods, saying the American is “not Superman” and backing him to have a continuing influence on golf even if he never plays the game again.

Woods suffered significant leg injuries during a car crash in California on Tuesday and is currently in hospital recovering from surgery.

The 45-year-old has had a metallic rod, screws and pins inserted into his right leg and the severity of the injuries cast doubt over whether Woods will ever play the game again, particularly as he was already on his way back from a fifth back operation.

Watch: Woods was unaware of how 'gravely' he was injured

Woods staged one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all-time when winning the 2019 Masters, his first Major triumph since 2005, after years of fitness and personal problems. But McIlroy admits this could be a bridge too far.

“Hopefully he comes back and is able to play, but if he’s not, I think he’ll still be a part of the game in some way, whether it’s his design business and his foundation and hosting golf tournaments,” McIlroy said.

“It might be the end of seeing the genius at work with a club in his hand, but there’s still a lot of other ways that he can affect the game in a great way.

“He’s not Superman.

“He’s a human being at the end of the day and he’s already been through so much so at this stage everyone should just be grateful that he’s here, he’s alive, that his kids haven’t lost their dad.

“That’s the most important thing. Golf is so far from the equation right now. It’s not even on the map at this point.”

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