Are Tiger and Rory BFF's?

[mvmac]

Have you seen Tiger and Rory lately?  Everyone in the media might be trying to make this the next great golf rivalry but from the looks of it Tiger and Rory are more of a bromance than a rivalry.  They've been having a great time playing together, laughing and chatting during rounds and have even given a few interviews together.  Despite a 13 year age difference, Rory and Tiger seem to share a mutual respect. It seems logical thatTiger probably relates to Rory, both growing up being golf phenoms  and winning majors in their early twenties.

Here's a portion of an article by Stephanie Wie that goes further into the details

Quote:

It’s almost strange to watch them interact. Or rather Tiger show such genuine fondness for his “replacement” as golf’s golden boy or the new king on the block or whatever people are calling this changing of the guard.

I didn’t realize they were so chummy until the PGA Championship when the two were giggling and hanging out like old buddies on the driving range at Kiawah Island after the first round. Tiger was even checking out Rory’s clubs, pulling them out of the bag to see what the kid was hitting, and he was also watching Rory swing. Their mini-hang-out sesh lasted a good 15 minutes

“I got a chance this year to play with him at Abu Dhabi in a practice round there, and we really hit it off. He’s a great kid and it’s great to be around him. What an amazing talent he really is.”

Rory echoed Tiger’s sentiments: “I’m looking forward to (playing with Tiger). I really enjoy his company. I know we’ll have a good time out there. It really focuses you from the get-go, a pairing like that.”

This will be the first time the two are paired together in competition. Hard to believe, huh?

Tiger isn’t easily wowed, but he likes Rory because he respects the kid’s game. Rory grew up with Tiger as his boyhood hero. Interestingly enough, Tiger is partly to thank for giving the golf world Rory and the other amazing young talents.

Part of Rory’s charm and appeal is he’s the antithesis of Tiger. Their demeanors on- and-off-the course are polar opposites. But they have one thing in common for certain, which is what united them in a way: Their incredible talent that sets them aside from their peers. It’s too early to say what Rory’s effect on the game will be and where he’ll fit in history. Tiger’s is still in the works, but it’s established.

Oh, wouldn’t it be more juicy and fun if the greatest player of this era and possibly the greatest player of the new era hated each other? Naw, it’s better this way.

McIlroy continued: “You know, I’m looking forward to it. I really enjoy his company. I know we’ll have a good time out there. I’m keeping him waiting here, so I’ll stop talking about him.”

Tiger had arrived, and indeed, had to wait for Rory to finish his turn at the podium. He didn’t appear to mind.

Next question. A reporter started asking about the Ryder Cup. “I know the Ryder Cup is a ways away, but how..”

Rory didn’t miss a beat, “Yeah, I’d love to go out there,” he said. “I’d love Tiger to go out first and kick his ass (laughter).”

See what he did there? Only 23 years old. Are you taking notes, Tiger? Ah, never mind.

“I was always the youngest against when I played against Vijay, Phil and Ernie, Goose,” said Tiger when asked what separated Rory for his former foes. “We went at it for just over a decade. I was always the youngest one out of that group.

“Rory is considerably younger than I am, but this is another generation. Those guys I just mentioned are all in their 40s, and this is the next generation of guys that are coming up, and Rory is one of them who’s in his 20s.”

There you have it. This confirms the changing of the guard in golf. Tiger is SO 2000s.

Welcome to the 2010s and perhaps beyond.

[colin007]

No. Tiger and i are BFFs. You should know this by now...

[mvmac]

Tiger's different bromances through the years

[TourSpoon]

I loved the interview that Tiger and Rory gave the other day. There was nothing but mutual respect. Obviously, neither one of them read Golf Digest, watch the Golf Channel, or surf The Sand Trap. What's their problem getting along like 2 guys playing golf?