Rory Mcilroy: More Talent than Tiger?

**mvmac** · December 7, 2011

Quote:

""I know Tiger is very, very close and obviously I think Tiger's work ethic has always been tremendous, and his mindset, as well. I think his mindset is what has separated himself from the field when he was really at the top of the game. But in terms of talent, I think Rory has more talent," Donald said Wednesday at the Dubai World Challenge."

I don't know, gotta take a look at them at similar ages. Tiger won the Masters at 21 by 12, Rory won the US Open at 22 by 8. Augusta was a different course back then and Tiger's length allowed him to be more dominant. Now 21 guys this year on the PGA tour averaged over 300 yards. Few years later Tiger has the legendary 200 season. Can Rory ever have a season like Tiger did in 2000 and win 6-8 events a year? But then we're talking about talent, can't really be measured.

I just remember Tiger "back then" being able to hit shots that maybe only Phil or Ernie coule hit. In terms of pure talent I think Mcilroy has a better swing and if he was to change it there wouldn't be that much to tweak. But Tiger can change his swing a bunch and still win majors and multiple tournaments a year. Which of those takes more talent?

***iacas*** · December 7, 2011

I've said that John Daly has more "talent" (using my own definition) than Tiger. Tiger has a "talent" for working hard, but pure golf "talent"?

In fact, here:

Originally Posted by iacas

I've said on the podcast and here that John Daly might have more raw talent in his pinkie finger than Tiger's got in his whole body, but Tiger's got about a billion times more focus. John could have been an incredible golfer. He's turned out to be a schlub. Watching someone waste a deity-given talent like that is pretty much the opposite of fun.

I haven't seen much to disprove my opinion there.

**Kieran123** · December 7, 2011

No.

Simple as that.

When did Tiger ever shoot 80 on a final day of a major?

Tiger could ( can? ) play shots from terrible situations and still hit the green ( and make birdie )

Rory can not putt like Tiger did ( can? )

Rory has a nice swing - but not all the goods Tiger did ( does? )

Rory has been golfing since however young - maybe Tiger works more on his game - who knows.....maybe if Rory put as much work ethic in as Tiger did/does, then he might be as dominant - but not even close right now/

**deasy55** · December 7, 2011

Off topic, but this made me curious so I did some research:

Tiger has shot 75 or worse in the final round of a major 7 times, most notably in the 2009 PGA when he had a 2 shot lead entering the tournament.

His worst round in a major is an 81 in the '02 Open.

Originally Posted by Kieran123

When did Tiger ever shoot 80 on a final day of a major?

**Kieran123** · December 7, 2011

Originally Posted by deasy55

Off topic, but this made me curious so I did some research:

Tiger has shot 75 or worse in the final round of a major 7 times, most notably in the 2009 PGA when he had a 2 shot lead entering the tournament.

His worst round in a major is an 81 in the '02 Open.

Was this final round with lead? Actually curious

**deasy55** · December 7, 2011

And on topic, I think Rory does have more talent in terms of the golf swing and ball striking, but Tiger has a lot of other things in his favour. Such as mental game, green reading, playing his best while under pressure etc.

**deasy55** · December 7, 2011

Quote:

Was this final round with lead? Actually curious

Nope, 3rd round. He was 2 shots off the lead after 36 holes but shot an 81 in the 3rd round to fall 11 behind with 18 to play.

**Kieran123** · December 7, 2011

I would be interested to know what age Rory started playing and his practice schedule

Deasy - I'm counting on you to know this

**deasy55** · December 7, 2011

Well.....I know he was hitting balls at 2 and was a scratch handicap at 13? (I'm aware you're taking the piss but I'll play along anyway)

Originally Posted by Kieran123

I would be interested to know what age Rory started playing and his practice schedule

Deasy - I'm counting on you to know this

**Kieran123** · December 7, 2011

Originally Posted by deasy55

Well.....I know he was hitting balls at 2 and was a scratch handicap at 13? (I'm aware you're taking the piss but I'll play along anyway)

I'm not taking the piss....seriously

**Zwick** · December 7, 2011

Talent doesn't win a tournament.

That's what Luke Donald says too. From his Twitter: "Talent can only take you so far, you need the right attitude (mindset) and application to perform at the highest level...." and "TW has always been the best at getting the ball in the hole when it mattered the most. That's not just talent that something else too...." and "A few people aren't understanding what I meant. The word talent and Rory to me means a free flowing swing who makes everything look so easy".

**k-troop** · December 7, 2011

Two shots.

Tiger's 7-iron from the right rough on (I think) #6, Pebble Beach in the 2000 open. 195 yards up that steep hill to 8 feet.

Tiger's 6-iron from the fairway bunker on the 18th at Glen Abbey from about 215. Climbed up quick to carry a huge tree maybe 50 yards in front of him, then dropped out of the sky to about 12 feet? That one was with the tournament on the line.

Could Rory hit those shots now, even in a practice round?

**deasy55** · December 7, 2011

Easily. I've seen him hit better shots

Originally Posted by k-troop

Could Rory hit those shots now, even in a practice round?

**sean_miller** · December 7, 2011

Originally Posted by k-troop

Two shots.

Tiger's 7-iron from the right rough on (I think) #6, Pebble Beach in the 2000 open. 195 yards up that steep hill to 8 feet.

Tiger's 6-iron from the fairway bunker on the 18th at Glen Abbey from about 215. Climbed up quick to carry a huge tree maybe 50 yards in front of him, then dropped out of the sky to about 12 feet? That one was with the tournament on the line.

Could Rory hit those shots now, even in a practice round?

Could you post a video of the Glenn Abbey shot? The one holding the green and stopping within 12 feet of the cup? I've seen a similar shot (72nd hole I believe - last time he played the event) but it bounced off the green into the rough if I remember correctly. I could be wrong.

Either way, if one-offs were proof of "talent" then surely Jack, Seve, Watson, Azinger, Palmer, Snead, Norman, Mickelson, Els, AK, Lehman, Freddie, DLIII, etc could all have a few heroic shots on the list.

**Mr. Desmond** · December 7, 2011

It's a tough question...

During the oughts, many said Phil had more talent than Tiger, but Tiger willed the ball into the hole ... and that takes talent. Lots of guys have a pretty swing, but they don't have the ability to win on a consistent basis. Tiger's talent was scrambling and making the big putts -- he had more talent than anyone in that department. He would take an 82 and make it a 70 on a consistent basis.

That is more than talent. It is a gift.

**Kieran123** · December 7, 2011

Every good golfer has had a few AMAZING shots

Tiger has had about 5000

That's the difference

**GaijinGolfer** · December 7, 2011

As much as I respect Luke Donald, Ive seen little that would back up his claim that Rory has more talent than Tiger.

**sean_miller** · December 7, 2011

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Quote:

Originally Posted by k-troop

Two shots.

Tiger's 7-iron from the right rough on (I think) #6, Pebble Beach in the 2000 open. 195 yards up that steep hill to 8 feet.

Tiger's 6-iron from the fairway bunker on the 18th at Glen Abbey from about 215. Climbed up quick to carry a huge tree maybe 50 yards in front of him, then dropped out of the sky to about 12 feet? That one was with the tournament on the line.

Could Rory hit those shots now, even in a practice round?

Could you post a video of the Glen Abbey shot? The one holding the green and stopping within 12 feet of the cup? I've seen a similar shot (72nd hole I believe - last time he played the event) but it bounced off the green into the rough if I remember correctly. I could be wrong.

Either way, if one-offs were proof of "talent" then surely Jack, Seve, Watson, Azinger, Palmer, Snead, Norman, Mickelson, Els, AK, Lehman, Freddie, DLIII, etc could all have a few heroic shots on the list.

The shot at Glen Abbey was truly a fantastic shot. It was from as good a lie in a bunker as I've ever seen, but still it was fantastic.

Now, let's for a moment hold Tiger to the same standard as Phil Mickelson haters hold Phil.

Tiger didn't hit the green - pretty close though - but he did only take two more to get up and down for birdie. So does that make the bunker shot less amazing because he didn't make the eagle?

I read a lot of Phil haters dis his 6-iron shot at the 2010 Masters because he never holed the eagle putt. Seriously, why does the next shot change anything? Does the fact he could easily have made birdie by laying up make this shot less awesome? If the shot was played by someone other than Tiger it sure would.

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