Sign up for our daily newsletter

Latest news, reviews, analysis and opinion, plus unmissable deals for bunkered subscriptions, events, and our commercial partners.

Speaking before he tees it up at the Deutsche Bank Championship today, world No.1 Rory McIlroy has had his say on what lies ahead for Tiger Woods as he continues to get treatment for a back injury.

The 25-year-old, who begins his challenge for the second FedExCup event of the season at 1:20pm today, has faith that Woods still has the drive, and the game, to get back among golf’s elite.

“He’s definitely highly motivated.” – Rory McIlroy

“His priority right now is to get healthy and to get stronger and fitter again to be able to swing the golf club the way he wants to,” said the Northern Irishman.

“He’s giving himself until the end of the year. Which I think that’s what he should do. He’s definitely highly motivated.”

McIlroy will know better than most how Woods is progressing after spending some time in Tiger’s company at the launch of the Nike Vapor irons and on The Tonight Show.

The 14-time major winner struggled with form and injury this year, either missing the cut or withdrawing from four of his last six events. Despite that, McIlroy believes Tiger will comeback fighting.

“I expect nothing less than him to come out next year and be playing well and get back to where everyone knows he can be,” he finished.

Rory McIlroy focused on finishing season on a high

This year, Rory McIlroy won his first Open Championship, and his first WGC at the Bridgestone Invitational. He currently second in the FedExCup standings, one place behind America’s Hunter Mahan. McIlroy made it clear. He wants the top spot.

“There’s a few things in golf that I still haven’t achieved,” he said. “The FedExCup is one of them. It would be great to win.

“Apart from the money and everything else that goes along with it. I feel like I’ve played a lot of good golf this season and I should be right there until the end.

“I said last week, I feel like this season deserves a good finish, and that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to keep it going. And I’m trying to give it the finish that it really should have.”