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Rory McIlroy says Tiger Woods will never return to a top-ranked position

A young man's bravado or an accurate assessment?

SEAN O'SHEA,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Saturday, September 24, 2011, 10:29 AM

Updated Saturday, September 24, 2011, 10:30 AM

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Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods best days are all behind him according to young Irish golfing ace Rory McIlroy. Now the former world champion will have a struggle to return to the top of the sport's world rankings, McIlroy contends.

Currently Woods is ranked at 49th - his lowest ranking since the days when he was a novice in 1996.

'We saw the best of Tiger in 2000 and 2001. I don't think golf can be played any better than that,' McIlroy told the BBC this week.

'He didn't even need to play that well to win tournaments - he won the US Open by 15 shots, the Open by eight - so I think we've seen the best of him but that's not to say to he won't win again. But (getting back to number one) will be difficult for him because the fields are so much deeper.

He set the benchmark and that's where we're all trying to get to. I don't think anybody has got there yet but we're getting closer. It will be a tough ask for him to get back there.'

McIlroy made his comments on the day he signed a new sponsorship deal with European banking giant Santander, underlining his new status as one of sport's most marketable names.

At just 22 McIlroy, ranked third in the world, has only played six tournaments since his major US Open win but back-to-back third-place finishes bode well for him ahead of next week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

Like Woods McIlroy told the BBC he is completely focused on winning major victories. 'I want to give myself a good chance in all four majors. If I was sat down here next year and hadn't won one I'd be disappointed. It would be an opportunity missed.'

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The Commentator | Apr 10, 2013, 03:03 AM EDT

Young lad Rory may be able to play the game but he certainly should not proclaim to be an expert about other players in the game. he needs to keep his head down and worry about his own game. Maybe after the Masters, he will regain top spot, but for now Tiger is Number 1. Regardless of who wins the Masters, Rory will be remembered for his childish quitting a game he was losing badly and for his stupid remarks about Tiger.

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gerrypower | Mar 27, 2013, 12:34 AM EDT

Typical sour "Nordie" !

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The Commentator | Mar 24, 2013, 12:23 PM EDT

Tiger is poised to win another tournament and according to Rory, he is not playing his best golf. Why would an inexperienced lad of 22 with only 15 minutes of fame make such derogatory comments, except to inflate his own ego by saying that he and many other younger players are better that the "over the hill" Tiger. Rory quit a tournament recently because he was playing poorly. He didn't have the guts to stick it out. He has lost all credibility and the right to comment on any golf subject except his own abysmal behaviour. I guess Rory never heard the quote "Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt" Perhaps Rory should have considered this before he spoke. Rank Name Wins Majors Span (years) 1 Sam Snead 82 7 30 2 Tiger Woods 76 14 18 3 Jack Nicklaus 73 18 25

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The Commentator | Mar 24, 2013, 11:11 AM EDT

it's amazing how smart one is at such a young age. It's only after one becomes knowledgeable, wisdom sets in, and the realization you really didn't know everything at 22 that you don't put your foot in your mouth every time you speak. It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. Rory sometimes acts like a spoiled child, quitting a tournament because he wasn't winning and couldn't face the reality of it. Perhaps he will gain a little humility over time, buckle down, and not just be another person who enjoyed 15 minutes of fame. Rory may be right that Tiger has already played his best golf, but he is proving that he doesn't need to play his best golf to beat other players in the world playing the best golf of their lives. Regardless of how some try to spin the comments made by Rory, Rory was inflating his prowess and disrespecting Tiger by saying he was "over the hill" and not only himself, but many other golfers are better than Tiger. Rory better hope that Tiger has lost enough skill so he can win a few more majors. We will see how Rory compares with Tiger over the next couple of years.

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deeman | Mar 13, 2013, 01:36 PM EDT

I guess Rory should watch his mouth, as Tiger is about to pass him now for #1 in the world.

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bunkerisland | Mar 04, 2013, 11:09 AM EST

Best things Rory could do is keep his mouth shut more often and not judge others, sell the estate and return home, then practice, practice, practice! It will take him decades to accomplish what Tiger has, assuming he does not implode before then. We all doubt that Tiger will return to the top, but he always is a threat to disrupt things and will occasionally have a handsome victory.

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ray bass | Feb 01, 2013, 10:11 AM EST

McIllroy is classless.

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Widzalo | Jul 27, 2012, 07:40 AM EDT

Guess all you bimbos will soon be eating your words. Where is Tiger now? A spot from world's best, and where is Rory, BEHIND Tiger. He spoke too soon, amateur!

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citizen69 | Sep 26, 2011, 02:22 PM EDT

Rory isn't putting Tiger down, he has a lot of respect for him, i think he knows he'll never match Tigers records... but he is being honest & i think he is correct. Tiger Woods will never again be world number one.

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warrenpoint00 | Sep 25, 2011, 08:27 PM EDT

How would he know anything about Tiger Woods, Rory of the one masters, when he achieves as half as much as Tiger then we might listen to him. Him that cannot even decide if he is Irish or British.Go golfing Rory son you have a lot of catching up to do with the coloured American

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Ernesider | Sep 25, 2011, 01:26 PM EDT

I think it is great that Rory is confident and speaks his mind without any of the usual pseudo diplomacy adopted by many. I want Rory to win another big one before next year as he says, himself. I'm wondering does he get a chance to play any at all on the banks of the Erne. Any news on how Heather is doing and what sort of compensation did she manage to get? If only we could get Rory to play under the green, white, and gold I'd be more than satisfied.

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walleyeman | Sep 25, 2011, 10:15 AM EDT

Agree with Rory. Anyone who plays golf at any level knows a good part of the game is won or lost between the ears and woods is FU in that department.

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cillowen | Sep 25, 2011, 09:49 AM EDT

this stan laural gaited character has a bad case of diarrhia of the mouth. do dum do dum ollie

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DavyOMalley | Sep 24, 2011, 11:16 AM EDT

I accidentally hit return before I finished my thought... Woods set the bar high early in his career, and now he is aging, fighting injuries, and has way less fan support. I know we should never say never, but he's simply never going to be at the 2000-2001 level again.

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DavyOMalley | Sep 24, 2011, 11:10 AM EDT

Sean, I think it was an obvious assessment and don't find it controversial

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