Rory McIlroy Says He 'Felt Sorry' for Tiger Woods Following Injuries

Superstar golfer Rory McIlroy said he "felt sorry" for longtime friendly rival Tiger Woods while watching the 14-time major champion try to return from the lingering back problems that have limited him to one official PGA Tour start since late August 2015.

Ewan Murray of the Guardian passed along comments Friday from the Northern Irish sensation, who proclaimed he's as focused as ever on being the "best golfer in the world." The third-ranked player in the world admitted he didn't expect to have those type of feelings about Woods, though.

"I never thought I would say this but I felt sorry for him," McIlroy said. "I just felt bad for the guy that his body won't allow him to do what he wants to do. I can't imagine anything so debilitating where you can't even stand up to do a press conference."

McIlroy pointed out it probably feels weird for Woods, who's been in the national spotlight for such a large percentage of his life, to struggle with the aspect of his life that made him one of the biggest names in the world of sports.

The Guardian noted the four-time major winner believes it would be a "bonus" for his 41-year-old counterpart to play competitive golf on a consistent basis again moving forward. Instead, he thinks Woods may dedicate most of his time to being with his children.

"I'm glad that he has other things in his life," McIlroy said. "He has his kids and is so committed to them. If he didn't have that it would be so hard. He is still young, he has another half of his life to live. Golf is minuscule compared to watching your kids grow up. That's where my priority would be now."

One thing's for sure: Woods' future is more uncertain now than ever before.

He was forced to withdraw from the Omega Dubai Desert Classic before the second round in early February because of back spasms. He then canceled a press conference two weeks later based on a doctor's recommendation to "limit all activities."

Woods' most recent statement on his official website, an announcement confirming he wouldn't participate in the Genesis Open or the Honda Classic, didn't provide a timetable for his return.

"My doctors have advised me not to play the next two weeks, to continue my treatment and to let my back calm down," he said on Feb. 10. "This is not what I was hoping for or expecting. I am extremely disappointed to miss the Genesis Open, a tournament that benefits my foundation, and the Honda Classic, my hometown event."

Looking ahead, the obvious target for Woods would be getting back in action for the Masters, which kicks off April 6. Alas, there have been no comments suggesting the season's first major is a realistic target following the latest setback.

He already owns one of the best resumes in golf history, so his legacy won't be impacted by whether or not he competes at a high level again. That said, it would be unfortunate if he's never able to battle the next wave of stars like McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth while at his best.