& # 039; We should be grateful that he is here & # 039; – Rory McIlroy says golf isn't what matters to Tiger Woods after the crash

Golfer Tiger Woods was injured in a car accident

Rory McIlroy has said we should be grateful that Tiger Woods is still alive and not wonder if he will play golf again.

McIlroy said Woods' health is most important after he sustained serious leg injuries in a Los Angeles car accident on Tuesday.

The foot and ankle of the 15-time great golf champion had to be stabilized with screws and pins.

"He's human and has been through so much," said McIlroy.

"At this stage I think everyone should just be thankful that he is here, that he lives and that his children have not lost their father.

"That's the most important thing. Golf is so far from the equation at this point, it's not even on the map at this point.

"He has had a very serious accident and we are very lucky that he is still here. I feel like we should pay tribute to him every day for his participation in the PGA Tour and what he's done for golf. "

Woods, 45, had to be" freed from the wreckage "by firefighters and paramedics and suffered" open fractures affecting the tibia and fibular bones. affect "in his lower right leg" stabilized by inserting a rod into the shin ".

He was "awake and responsive" Wednesday after surgery, but the future of his playing career is questionable.

McIlroy praised Woods for having had a previous serious back injury

In the run-up to this week's WGC Workday Championship, take place at the Concession in Florida, McIlroy said the players will need to focus on the tournament.

"I watched some of the coverage yesterday and they talked like he was gone," the 31-year-old continued.

"He's been in a car accident, it was really bad, he's lucky to be here – which is great – but that's the magnitude of it. We're all going to have a play golf tournament and see no difference.

"Obviously, it will take a lot of attention from this golf tournament but that has nothing to do with us and we don't really feel that when we play.

While emphasizing his hope that Woods will play again, McIlroy said the golf world should prepare for the day when Woods is no longer a player.

"It's always great when he's in a tournament or out of here, because it gives that tournament an extra dimension that it normally doesn't have," he added.

“I think we were all headed for the day Tiger wasn't going to be part of the game. I'm not saying that was short – before that accident he was recovering from a back injury and would hopefully come back to play this year.

"Inevitably one day he won't play and this is something the golf game and the Tour will have to deal with and adapt to.

"Hopefully he will come back and be able to play, but if he isn't, I think he will still be a part of the game somehow. It might be the end of seeing the genius at work with a bat in his hand, but there are still many ways he can influence the game in a great way. "

McIlroy heads to this week's WGC-Workday Championship after missing his first leg of 30 events at last week's Genesis Invitational.