Monty: Rory better than Woods ever was

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/monty-mcilroy-better-now-woods-ever-was/

"Tiger Woods is going to come back into the frame," Montgomerie told Kicca.com . "Is he going to be able to get back, not just to the levels he was, but better than that? Because that's where Rory McIlroy's taken the standard of golf: to one level beyond where Tiger was."

Monty with an interesting comment. Do numbers back him up?

blowhard - ridiculous comment for someone of his stature

If he wins the next two majors then you could argue that. As of right now... Definitely not.

Could you imagine the hype for the US Open next year if Rory wins the Masters? It has the potential to be the best major championship ever if Rory and Tiger are in the mix after Saturday (and even better if Phil is also in the hunt):

• Rory with a chance to achieve the Tiger Slam
• Tiger trying to stop that from happening AND end his majorless drought
• Phil looking for his first US open and career grand slam at age 45

No, certainly not.

However, Mrs. Doubtfire undoubtedly isn't basing the statement on numbers. It's purely his own opinion.

I read it differently, given that even Woods hasn't been able to get back to his own levels of dominance

I read it to mean that Montgomerie was commenting on where Woods was say a couple of years ago when he regained the top spot, and Montgomerie is saying that he'll need to come back at a level beyond that, because that's where Rory is today. I'm not so sure that's unreasonable?

I think he's saying in effect that Rory's 2014 game is better than Tigers in 2013

The article looks as if its been subjected to a bit of mischievous spin I reckon by the author. I doubt Montgomerie seriously believes that Rory's achievements to date are better than Tigers from that period (he ain't that stupid). There's enough breaks between the quotes and 'set ups' in the narrative to lead you into thinking otherwise. It isn't one continuous quote. It doesn't chime with me. Sorry.

And his comment of 100/1 carries all the caveats that a long shot should. He's clearly saying he's got a very slim chance of achieving it

That would be pretty cool.

Pretty sure Monty was just fooling around with a journalist. Rory may some day be better that Tiger has been, but he has some things to accomplish before being considered for Monty's claim.

I think it's a mischievous journalist trying to play to a nationalist crowd by drumming up on an old American hate figure and putting words into his mouth with a misleading headline.

Where in the attributable quote(s) has Colin said "better than Woods ever was" that has been used as the headline? He hasn't

What he's said is that he's got to come back at a level higher than he was at, as in he's coming back to something , from the point at which he left it (as in returning), and not at some high point from over a decade ago.

Colin's probably right. If the 2014 Rory played the 2013 Tiger, Rory would probably win. I suspect Tiger knows this more than anyone though

It's a non-issue

heres my take - Rors is scary good.  when he is on, he is almost unbeatable.

in addition, i would say that the field is better now (post 2011) than it was when Tiger won The Open by 15 at pebble and The Masters by 12, just as the field then was much better than it was when Jack was dominating.  so Rors winning majors by 8 strokes is almost as good as Tigs margins of victory.

I am inclined to agree with @FarawayFairways , that the author of the article was looking for a bit more sizzle and took some liberty to twist it to say all time Tiger. Monty may like Rory more and therefore may be biased towards Rory because of the European connection, but not enough to claim that Rory's two majors are even in the same conversation as 2000.

I like Colin on TV. He is pretty good at it and I hope we get to see him during the majors on the GC.

Why thank you! I've always thought I should be on t.v. more... ;-)

Not yet.

January '15 issue of Golf Digest does a direct comparison of their numbers at 24 years of age. So Rory from 2014 and Tiger from 2000. Tiger and Rory were both ranked number 1 in scoring average (Tiger was a full shot better though), birdie average and majors won (Woods had 3 to McIlroy's 2).   Rory does drive the ball further but Woods was #1 in total driving. Both phenomenal but the stats show that while he had an amazing year, Rory is not where Tiger was at the same stage of his career. We'll see in time, but for right now it's still Tiger.

When I hear comments like this, ( which I disagree with) I question the context, motivation or if was simple said in jest to get a laugh. Ill reserve judgement on Monty until that time.

there is only one thing worse than this comment, Its when professional athletes & entertainers attempt to comment morally of current events to the unwashed masses. But I digress.