Rory McIlroy reveals he, Tiger Woods have contracted COVID-19 ahead of the 2022 British Open in St. Andrews

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods made headlines this past summer at The 150th Open for two completely different reasons. During Woods’s possibly final stroll around the Old Course in St. Andrews, McIlroy rose to the top of the leaderboard and advanced to the all-important finals with a lead. However, just a few days earlier, the two were barely feeling their best as McIlroy revealed in an interview with independence that the pair contracted COVID-19 ahead of the year’s final major championship.

“Tiger needs a rest on Wednesday. We played two days of golf at Adare [Manor] and the plan is to play Ballybunion on Thursday. “I woke up that morning feeling a bit sore but really no problem,” McIlroy said. [McManus] gave us his helicopter and we went down with Sean and Tiger’s manager, Rob [McNamara]. We were fine, flew back to Adare for lunch and when I got up from the table I was sore, stiff and extremely tired.

“I said to Erica, ‘I feel a little weird. I just went upstairs to lie down for a bit.’ I slept for about two hours and the sweat started coming out, then Erica took my temperature and it was sky high I called Tiger: ‘I’m not feeling very well here.’ And he said, ‘Oh, I feel fine.’ But he texted me at 10 p.m. that night, chills, feverish, and I said, “Damn, I just got a Tiger Covid shot! It’s horrible!” (laughs) So we both had Covid to attend The Open.”

There’s something to laugh about now, but imagine how different The Open would have been without McIlroy or Woods’ presence. The 15-time major champion may have never crossed the Swilcan Bridge, where breathless golf fans wonder if Woods will stop for a last dip in the Old Course. The scene where Woods then steps down the 18th hole can be considered the time of year in golf.

As for McIlroy, he may never have come close to adding a major number 5 to his impressive resume. Capturing the heart of St. Andrews in the process, the locals managed to get the Northern Irishman to Claret Jug and created one of the great home field advantages in recent memory.

Hypothetically speaking, including both is essential for an amazing 150th Open. Luckily for golf fans, the two will soon be back in action when they face Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in The Match VII on December 10.