RORY McILROY will never go through the agonies Tiger Woods does to keep playing golf.

That is because he will put away his clubs long before he is 50.

McIlroy, 35, says he has no doubts Woods – who turns 50 in December – will return from his latest injury, a ruptured Achilles.

But the world No 2, who has been a pro since he was just 17, insisted: “Something would have gone terribly wrong if I have to compete at 50.

“What has happened to Tiger sucks. But judging by his previous behaviour I know he’ll try to come back from this.

“I wouldn’t put myself through it and that is no disrespect to Tiger.

“I have just never envisaged keeping going that long.

“I’m already 18 years into a professional career and, when I feel the time is right, I’ll have no problem moving aside and letting the next generation do their thing.

“I look at other sports and I’ve already had an unbelievable career.

“Not a lot of athletes can say they’ve had such a long career.  And I’m only 35.

“When I’ve achieved everything I want to in the game and I get to the point where I don’t think  I can maybe do that any more, I’m gone.

“I’d also like to walk away with a little bit left in the tank. I don’t want to be out there embarrassing myself.

“I’d like to walk away maybe a little before I should, to finish on my own terms.”

McIlroy, who plays in the Players Championship here in Florida starting today, thinks his close pal Woods is unlikely to be back before the end of the year.

So the 15-time Major winner will be eligible for the Champions Tour by the time he returns.

But McIlroy said: “Tiger won’t be thinking about Champions Tour,  he’ll still be thinking about playing more Majors.

“He doesn’t have much luck when it comes to injuries and his body has been through so much. 

“I just hope he’s in good spirits and doing OK.”