Rory McIlroy: 'better than Tiger Woods'

[RocketSauce]

I'm not sure on what basis you can say Rory is better than Tiger was at that age. Around that age Tiger had racked up some pretty good stats ( 3 straight Jrs and 3 straight US amateurs), and I believe was in college at 19. As soon as Tiger turned pro in '96 (not yet 21) he started winning. Tiger won twice his first year out as a pro with only 8 starts (he played his first professional event in Sept. '96), then won his first major the following April.

I didnt say it. Mark O'Meara did. I was simply correcting the people who took the quote out of context

[I <3 Titleist]

I've been watching and regarding McIlroy since Carnoustie in 07. I've read tons of articles on what a special talent he is...

but I'm sorry.

This is the most bonehead golf claim I've heard to date. Nobody in competative golf is better than Tiger. Hands down.

/thread

[hawkeye]

I've been watching and regarding McIlroy since Carnoustie in 07. I've read tons of articles on what a special talent he is...

Don't think anyone said/will say that...read the quote by O'Meara.

[mjtoal]

McIlroy is a great prospect, and I think will be a multiple winner all around the world. Whether he is the next Tiger, who knows? One important difference between Rory and Kim, for example, is that although both are extremely confident, Rory is much more measured in what he says. He knows he is in learning mode right now and has a long way to go, but he has the time, patience and talent to get there. He has sensible management and good support from players like Darren Clarke.

The Dubai Desert Classic should not be underestimated as an event. It always gets a good field and generally is won by a leading player. Not too many choppers win there.

Oh, and Mark It Nearer did not say Rory was better than Eldrick. He said his ball striking was better than TW at the same age. Big difference, and Mark, TW and Rory all know the difference.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/7858684.stm

[I <3 Titleist]

The thing is, I think were really starting to see the era of young guys who were raised on golf shortly after Tiger entered the spotlight. So many more junior golfers have come up and this is right about the time (13-14 years since Tiger came on) were going to see all the new golf prodigies. Going to be a good time.

[bigfred31]

one win and they want to crown the guy the next big thing. boy people and media are too quick with that. he is not the next tiger woods. he is the first rory mcilroy. i seem to remember them saying this about jb holmes where he won the fbr in for the first time. also said this about justin rose too at birkdale in 1998.

[PEZGolf]

Havent we seen many of potential "superstars" just losing it over time?

You are so right. How many people were labeled the "next Jack Nicklaus" only to never achieve anywhere near what Jack did: Tom Weiskopf, Hal Sutton, etc.?

[Prodigy]

tha kid can play but we all know that tiger is the best that ever walked the planet

[RichF]

'McIlroy will be number one - Els'

Ernie Els has backed Rory McIlroy to become world number one after the Northern Ireland teenager made the WGC Accenture Match Play quarter-finals.
The 19-year-old from Holywood is the centre of attention in Arizona following Tiger Woods' early exit. McIlroy beat South Africa's Tim Clark 4&3 on Friday to set up a last-eight clash with Australian Geoff Ogilvy.
"I think that you're probably looking at the next number one in the world with him," said Ernie Els.
The South African, who plays Stewart Cink in Saturday's quarter-finals, added: "He's going to be a major factor in world golf. He's got all the tools. He's got a lot going for him."
McIlroy, making his professional debut in the United States, has remained calm despite the attention: " I still have got a long way to go, and my main goal is to try to get into the top 10 in the world and then if I can do that I'll try and get to number two and then Tiger comes back fit and strong. You've just got to go out there and play golf. Just try and make birdies and try and shoot good scores and the rest will take care of itself."

Ogilvy, the WGC Accenture winner in 2006 and runner-up in 2007, tees off against McIlroy at 1420 GMT on Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.
"He's obviously a great player," said Ogilvy. "I've been hearing all the stories and seen him hit it. He hits it great, makes a lot of putts if he does as well as he does. So I'm sure I'm going to have my work cut out, and it will be fun to play with him."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/7916275.stm


Don't shoot the messenger...

[VOX]

Its way too early to tell with Rory, but at Rory's age Tiger was missing cuts at every PGA event he entered. I believe he missed the cut in his first seven events and it took him about four years before he got a top 20.

[Zeph]

What I noticed on the Accenture Match Play is that he's also a great putter. How good remains to see, but unlike Villegas he putted well all the tournament. I have no doubt he'll be in the top of professional golf for a long time. Whether he can do what Tiger has done remains to be seen, but as I've said before, it takes more then a good swing to accomplish what Tiger has.

Comparing statistics doesn't tell us anything, it's how Rory works on his game, both mental and physical that will decide how successfull he will be. Tiger had his father, maybe the best tutor anyone ever had. He gave Tiger the foundations that he today is working on, especially the mental game of really being into what you are doing.

[goblue107501]

Its way too early to tell with Rory, but at Rory's age Tiger was missing cuts at every PGA event he entered. I believe he missed the cut in his first seven events and it took him about four years before he got a top 20.

Unless I am misunderstanding something, this is waaaaaaaay off. Tiger turned pro when he was 20, McIlroy will turn 20 this April. He won the fifth event he entered. Then he won his seventh start as a pro. Of his first eight starts, 2 wins, 5 top 5's, and made all eight cuts.

Rory did have a great amateur career like Tiger did. He has won early at a big event. IMO, we better save the 'better than Tiger' talk until he wins a few majors and wins one of them by blowing out the field by 10+ shots.

[BASHERBAKER69]

Rory will be a Top 5 player in the world within the next 18 months and will be one to watch at the Masters in May. ...he is provisionally 10th in the world.

To say he will be the better than Tiger Woods is probably an accurate statement but not in the next 3 years. I don't think anyone will ever be as dominant as Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus (that's another thread). He will make it to Number 1 in his career but it might take 5 or 6 years to achieve this due to the fact that TW is so far ahead in the points based world rankings and that as long as TW keeps winning events or having top 5 finishes he will continue to consolidate his ranking.

[VOX]

I agree with you that comparison is too early, but my data is accurate.

It is true that Tiger turned pro in August of 1995 when he was almost 21, but he had already plyed in about a dozen PGA tourmnements over the previous four seasons and missed the cut in almost all of them.

[goblue107501]

I agree with you that comparison is too early, but my data is accurate.

1996 actually. I don't think you can count what Tiger did in tour events as an amateur in his pro stats. Just being able to play in pro tournaments as an amateur is accomplishment enough. Plus, quite a few of them were majors from winning the U.S. Am.

[VOX]

Oops. I meant 1996.

[RC]

I think at approximately the same age, McIkroy is a bit better putter than Tiger was. However, Tiger, through force of will power turned himself into a better putter over time. I watched him change as a putter -- it was as if he willed himself to become a good putter as he changed his "straight back and push it open stroke." As we go forward, who knows. I keep expecting the great Tiger to eventually have some level of putting problem -- we shall see. Not every key putt will continue to fall -- it never has. Tiger's short game is the best right now (or from before knee surgery), he is no longer super long, or the most accurate of guys on tour. He is likely the strongest competitor. McIlroy shows naturally good feel for putting, and is obviously very long, but as we all know, this does not mean that putting skill will stay with you for a career. It is all guess work at this stage.

[RichF]

Sounds like Geoff Ogilvy is on the bandwagon too after beating McIlroy yesterday:
"He is by far the best young player I've ever played with - he hits the ball well, chips and putts well and his demeanour is fantastic. All the hype is fair because he's the real deal."

The real deal is this: from now on, folks will be looking at where Woods and McIlroy are on the leaderboards.