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Cape Town — Tiger Woods is set to return to action at this week’s Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club, and he’ll have Rory McIlroy for company during the first two rounds.

The long-running PGA Tour event has decided to group Woods and McIlroy together for the second year running, making it the eighth time in Tour history the two golfers will tee it up alongside each other.

Interestingly, in the 13 times they’ve started together, Woods has outscored McIlroy on six occasions, while McIlroy has earned bragging rights five times – including at last year’s Genesis Open when he opened with rounds of 71 and 69 and Woods posted rounds of 72 and 76.

On the other two occasions they matched each other stroke for stroke.

Being paired with Woods means a very different day at the office for any player, as McIlroy pointed out ahead of last year’s Genesis Open.

“I would not have minded a nice quiet couple of days, Thursday, Friday, but no, no, it’s totally fine playing with Tiger,” he said.

“Like anytime you have a chance to play in a group like that, you sort of relish it and embrace it. I’m obviously looking forward to the next couple of days.”

Joining Woods and McIlroy for the ride at Riviera is none other than world No 4 Justin Thomas.

Meanwhile, Pebble Beach Pro-Am champion Phil Mickelson revealed that he thanked Paul Casey for deciding to haul them off the course due to fading light on Sunday.

The 48-year-old was not happy with Casey’s decision on Sunday evening, and was insistent there was still enough light for them to finish their rounds, leading to a brief stand-off between the two on the 16th green.

But after returning to Pebble Beach Golf Links on Monday morning to wrap up a three-shot victory with a minimum of fuss, Mickelson had clearly calmed down and seen the sense in Casey’s actions, admitting that he’d maybe treated the Englishman a little unfairly the night before.

“I thanked Paul this morning for having us finish this morning because I get sometimes in my own little bubble that I don’t see the big picture and he really protected both of us as the greens last night were beat-up so to come out today on fresh greens, better weather and be able to see a lot better made me better appreciative of that,” he said.

Mickelson also downplayed suggestions that his record-equalling fifth Pebble Beach victory meant he was now one of the favourites for this year’s US Open at the same venue.

“Lefty” currently only needs the US Open to complete the career Grand Slam by winning all four majors, and he could hardly have asked for a better venue than Pebble Beach to try and achieve the feat.

— News24.