Woods giving McIlroy ‘some heat’ from his hospital bed

RORY McILROY has revealed Tiger Woods is ‘doing better’, and also dishing out criticism, as he recovers from serious leg injuries suffered in a car accident.

‘I’ve spoken to him a little bit,’ said McIlroy ahead of the Players Championship, which starts today. ‘Hopefully if things go well over the next week or so he might be able to get home and start to recover at home, which would be great for him. He’s doing better.’

McIlroy revealed Woods has also commented on his recent form, including a closing 76 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

‘He texted me words of encouragement before the final round and things didn’t quite go to plan, and he was the first one to text me and be like, “What’s going on here?” So even from the hospital bed he’s still giving me some heat,’ McIlroy added.

Seeing red: Carlos Sainz and Charles LeClerc (right) with the new Ferrari, which was unveiled yesterday ahead of the start of the F1 season, with the first race in Bahrain on March 28

RYAN GIGGS will remain on leave for the start of Wales’ World Cup qualifying campaign, with Robert Page again taking caretaker charge of the team.

The former Manchester United star was arrested on suspicion of assault – which he denies – in November and last month had his bail extended until May 1.

Giggs, who reportedly had a row with his girlfriend, missed Wales’ Nations League games as Page stepped in. That will again be the case when the squad meets up this month for World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and the Czech Republic and a friendly with Mexico.