Irish golfer Rory McIlroy will surpass Tiger Woods
Posted on Monday, May 03, 2010 at 09:47 PM
Larger Text
Print
E-mail
7 Comments
RSS 
Recent Posts
- Is Rory McIlroy a spoiled brat and just an overgrown child? - Antics during the U.S. Open leave his maturity very much in question
- Was Notre Dame’s Everett Golson caught cheating at exams leading to suspension? Quarterback statement hints at major integrity issue and harsh punishment does also
- Orb should win Preakness easily, Oxbow up for second
- Could Celtic boss Neil Lennon be next manager at Manchester United? - His European exploits, especially defeating Barcelona may put him in frame
- Orb has what it takes to win Triple Crown in 2013 - Kentucky Derby winner has breeding, connections and talent
Archives
"He's some kinda player" said Masters champion Phil Mickelson talking about Irish sensation Rory McIlroy, barely out of his teens.
He's got that right.
Mickelson was commenting on the County Down native after he had burned past Mickelson in the final round on Sunday to capture his first PGA event in America.
Indeed, McIlroy will surpass Tiger Woods as easily as he surpassed him at the weekend.
Tiger failed to make the cut and McIlroy destroyed the course, especially in Sunday taking only 30 shots on the back nine.
By then Tiger was back home in Florida watching the kid on TV and seeing his own reflection at the same age I'd say.
But McIlroy can be better than Woods.
He can actually play shots that Woods could not at his age --and he handles the pressure.
No less a judge than Ernie Els said last year that the world of golf is probably looking at the next No. 1 when it sees McIlroy.
He is already the youngest since Woods to win a PGA event, the youngest player to ever make the top 50 in the World Golf Rankings and the second youngest to ever crack the top 10.
Last year he almost won the European Tour's Order of Merit last year and won the Dubai Desert Classic last year.
He is also learning to handle the pressure "I had never felt expectation up until this year," McIlroy said. "I think I got to seventh in the world at the start of the year, and I'm thinking, well, if I'm the seventh-best golfer in the world I should be going out and competing, and I was putting a lot of pressure on myself, which you shouldn't.
"Sometimes you need to sit back and say, look, you're only 20, 21 years old, and you're doing pretty well, and just putting things in perspective a little bit. I was probably trying to get to that point too soon the way I was pushing and pushing, and it probably wasn't great for my game.
"After the Masters I've just tried to free it all up, relax a little bit and just go out and play. And it's obviously worked this week, and hopefully I can have that same attitude going into the rest of the season."
Spoken like a true modest champion who knows what he has to do in the most competitive sport on earth.
Expect McIlroy to go all the way tot he top and have Tiger in his rear view mirror any day now.
As he showed on Sunday he's that good.
7 Comments
See all comments
LoveDoolin | May 05, 2010, 07:32 PM EDT
I'm hardly a "Tiger" fan, but to presume Rory is going to reach such great heights in the world of golf is really being too presumptuous. Tiger is going through a lot of personal problems, which obviously are preventing him from having that 'focus' edge he usally has. It was a great game for Rory...but he'll have to have many more great games to meet your expectations.
Report abuse
Reilleyfam | May 05, 2010, 01:09 PM EDT
WAAAAAAY too early to be making these wildly irresponsible predictions. I hope he does though, nothing would be better than seeing Tiger go away and have it done by an Irishman.
Report abuse
morganink | May 05, 2010, 10:44 AM EDT
I wish Rory all the best, but it's a bit early to forecast a long career for a young man with a bad back before he's 21. He plays magnificent golf, but rash claims that put Tiger in his rearview mirror don't even look real right now.
Report abuse
clevelander | May 05, 2010, 09:44 AM EDT
This "Irish Golfer" say's he will play for England in the olympics in 2016 if golf is played. He stated " I have a British passport why not play for britain"? I know the times are changing but he lost with that. I just can't root for the guy!!!
Report abuse
Liamkeyes | May 04, 2010, 06:20 PM EDT
I am very happy for Rory. He's got a great future ahead of him. However to even get near Tiger will take a Herculean effort.
Report abuse
conning | May 04, 2010, 04:04 PM EDT
I was watching him play (on TV) on Sunday. What a beautiful athlete! He makes golf look easy.
He also seems very centered and unaffected.
Report abuse
Report abuse