Conor McGregor applauds Tiger Woods as the Master returns

Taking to social media just hours after his Dublin court appearance, McGregor declared: "Hats off to the Golf Goat @TigerWoods this weekend. Grit and hard work can combine for a comeback- the world is cheering for you. Congratulations, my friend."

The legendary golfer returned to Augusta National and teed it up in a remarkable comeback more than a year after his horror car accident.

The 15-time major winner impressed on his comeback as he shot an opening round one under par 72 to leave him well in contention.

McGregor who is also battling back from a horror leg injury, obviously felt some empathy to the American sports star.

The UFC star took to social media just hours after he appeared in court charged with dangerous driving and other motoring offences.

The 33-year-old had the case against him adjourned when he came before a Dublin court charged over an incident in the west of the city last month.

Judge David McHugh remanded McGregor on continuing bail at Blanchardstown District Court, to decide how he intends to plead.

McGregor, with an address at The Paddocks, Castledillon, Straffan, Co Kildare is accused of two counts of dangerous driving, at the Lucan Road in Lucan and the N4 / M50 Interchange in Palmerstown, on March 22.

He is also charged with uninsured and unlicenced driving, as well as failing to produce his documents at a garda station within 10 days.

McGregor arrived at the west Dublin courthouse in a 21-registered Rolls Royce, for his first appearance on the charges.

Dressed in a grey blazer, white shirt, dark striped tie, dark jeans and black shoes, he sat in the dock and looked around the courtroom, glancing up at the judge occasionally.

He was not required to address the court during the brief hearing and has not yet entered pleas to the charges.

McGregor declined to comment on the case outside court, but spoke briefly about his training.

“Straight back into training... I’m looking forward to getting back into the Octagon," he said.

Asked if he had an opponent in mind, he replied: “We’ll see what happens, the leg’s getting better every day so I’m happy with that. I think 170 is where I’m aiming for. I’m training hard. “

McGregor, the world's highest earning athlete in 2021, is believed to have been driving a 2019-registered €170,000 Bentley Continental GT at the time he was stopped.

After his arrest last month, his spokesperson said: “Mr McGregor was driving to the gym when he was stopped by gardaí for alleged road traffic violations. He passed the drug and alcohol tests taken at the station.”

A video from a passing car of McGregor being pulled over by the gardai went viral and was retweeted by McGregor.

Hours after the arrest, the Crumlin-born fighter posted a message on Instagram saying "tea always helps," with a picture of tea and muffins.

Several criminal prosecutions have brought McGregor before the courts in recent years.

In 2019, he was fined €1,000 but avoided jail after pleading guilty to assaulting a man at the Marble Arch pub in Drimnagh that April.

During that hearing the court was told McGregor had 18 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic charges, but one for assault, as well as public order offences.

Among his prior motoring cases, In 2018, he was banned from driving for six months and fined €1,000 at Naas District Court for speeding.

McGregor was caught driving at 154kph in a 100kph zone on the N7 in Co Kildare in the incident on October 11, 2017, and failed to pay the fixed penalty fine due to an administrative error, that court heard.

In November, 2017 McGregor was fined €400 for speeding in a separate incident on the Naas Road after he pleaded guilty at Blanchardstown District Court.