Tiger Woods Masters: Bout with Rory McIlroy Will Make Tourney Worth Watching

For a little while, it looked like Rory McIlroy might be the new Tiger Woods.

Then, McIlroy collapsed, and a little bit later, Tiger finally started making a comeback. Now, as the two of them gun for a green jacket at Augusta National, both of them have as good a shot of winning as the other.

The battle between the two of them alone will make this year's tournament worth watching.

Once upon a time, McIlroy was watching Woods, his idol, on TV and hoped to be great like him one day. Now, just like last year, he has the chance to beat him.

In fact, before Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend, McIlroy was the favorite to win this year's tournament.

It's a much different case from this time last April.

Back then, Woods exited the tournament with a knee injury while McIlroy was poised to win. Instead, the 21-year-old experienced the greatest collapse by a 54-hole leader in over 50 years.

Since then, both have staged comebacks of sorts. McIlroy won the U.S. Open by eight shots and has finished third or better in nine of his last 12 tournaments.

The only golfer riding higher may be Woods—winner of 14 majors and four Masters—who has seemingly regained the form that once made him the world's best. After two years plagued by injuries and scandals, the golf world has experienced a glimmer of hope, now that Tiger has started making headlines about golf again.

All of which will make this year's Masters more fun to watch.

Both golfers are gearing up for redemption: The kid who hopes to follow Woods' illustrious footsteps, and the veteran poised to prove he still has something left in the tank.

After his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Woods is more prepared for what he is facing at Augusta than he has been in a long time. He told the Associated Press:

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I've gone into Augusta with wins and without wins. You're looking for one week, that's all. Hopefully, everything comes together for that one week. I understand how to play Augusta National. And it's just a matter of executing the game plan.

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McIlroy's competition may have gotten a lot steeper in the past couple of weeks, but he should be thrilled. Woods, too, should be eager to square up against someone who is playing as well as McIlroy. After last year's disappointment, it will be exciting to watch both of them, knowing that this time, each of them really does have a shot at winning.

In the end, competition like this is so much better for the game.