Rory says Tiger and Phil are on the "last few holes" of their careers. Thoughts???

[mmoan2]

Did anyone else see this on espn.com? Seems like a little gamesmanship to me. Out of character for Rory. Also, Tiger's only 38 (though his body may be more like 58). I still think if both stay healthy, Phil has 3-4 more top quality years if his mind is in it and Tiger 8-10. Big ifs, though...

[mvmac]

Didn't see it but in terms of Phil I don't disagree with him, Phil is 44 years old and didn't win this year. Mickelson might have one more major in him but his best playing days are behind him. Even if he did have 3-4 more quality years, it's still the "last few holes" when you look at his overall career.

In regards to Tiger, not sure, it all depends on if he can stay healthy but there is a good chance you're not going to see him play the way he did from '00-'08.

[newtogolf]

Rory comes off a bit brash because of his age and time on Tour but it's the truth.  Phil more so due to age and Tiger due to injuries are both on the back 9 of their careers.

I can see Phil having some fun on the Champions Tour and playing some Majors for a few more years, but I don't see Tiger ever playing on the Champions Tour.

[saevel25]

I have no issue with what Rory said.

I do think Phil will be like Tom Watson, he just has the swing to play a lot more golf in his senior years. I think Tiger skips the champions tour. He'd probably continue to playing a few select tournaments and the majors. Really not sure how Tiger will retire. Does he continue to just play in the Majors like Jack did for all those years. Does he move on to other ventures, like golf course design. Not sure.

[jamo]

Should probably link to the post the OP was referencing: http://m.espn.go.com/golf/story?storyId=11499268

[mmoan2]

I agree about Tiger not doing the Champions Tour. I think he suffers from the curse of having the GOAT hanging on him, like MJ did. The drive to succeed is so strong, but he'll probably want to stay as far away from major tour golf as possible once he's had his fill. It's a blessing and a curse to be so good and have such high expectations follow you everywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if he retired to a remote Pacific Island and we never heard from again, honestly.

As to @mvmac - forget '00 - '08. I'm 100% sure that person and level of play is gone. I just would like to see him stay consistently healthy enough to remain relevant for 10 years.

[colin007]

tiger is on hole 14 of his career.  Fill is on hole 16.5

[mvmac]

As to @mvmac - forget '00 - '08. I'm 100% sure that person and level of play is gone. I just would like to see him stay consistently healthy enough to remain relevant for 10 years.

So then Rory would be correct with what he said

[isukgolf]

Sometimes the truth is hard to hear ... however, I believe Tiger will continue to win a few more in the next 3-4 years

[colin007]

So then Rory would be correct with what he said

ah, rory, theres no need to justify what you said.  dont respond to the knee jerk reaction and itll blow over.

Sometimes the truth is hard to hear ... however, I believe Tiger will continue to win a few more in the next 3-4 years

i think he will too.  theres no reason why he cant have another year where he wins 3 or 4 times, maybe even a major.

[newtogolf]

So then Rory would be correct with what he said

I'm sure Phil and Tiger will take some pleasure in reminding Rory of these tweets should he happen to lose to either one of them in the near future.  Sometimes the truth hurts, I think Phil is realistic about where he is in his career, not so sure Tiger is.

[Shorty]

Seems like a little gamesmanship to me. Out of character for Rory.

Yeah, he should have said that their careers are in the ascendancy and that they are younger now than they were fifteen years ago.

It was very sneaky of him to give a respectful, reasonable and honest answer when asked a question.

[rehmwa]

I agree about Tiger not doing the Champions Tour. I think he suffers from the curse of having the GOAT hanging on him, like MJ did.

I wouldn't be surprised if he retired to a remote Pacific Island and we never heard from again, honestly.

Or try to play major league baseball.....?

I'd very much like to see Tiger beat Arnie's total wins.

Total Majors?  It's not a big one for me either way.  It would be cool.

Thrilled with Rory's consistent frankness.  It's refreshing and I hope the stupid and escalatory media, looking to manufacture conflict out of thin air, fails to change this kid's attitude.

[Pretzel]

He already has. Tiger Woods is credited with 106 professional wins (79 on the PGA Tour) and Arnold Palmer is credited with "only" 95 (62 on the PGA Tour).

EDIT: I'm not sure if the numbers I have (from Wikipedia) are double-counting the British Open as a win on each tour, like what sometimes happens when totaling a player's earnings.

[Zeph]

Of course they're on the last few holes of their career. They started out young and are 38 and 44 years old. Doesn't mean they are out of the picture yet, but at a totally different place than Rory.

Vijay won 22 times on the PGA Tour at age 40+, during the age of Tiger. Phil is starting to push it, but Tiger has potentially many years left, granted he's healthy.

[Mr. Desmond]

Sometimes the truth is hard to hear ... however, I believe Tiger will continue to win a few more in the next 3-4 years

Tiger's biggest error was getting married. If he had married at 38, we'd probably be talking about how he burst through Jack's 18...

But with the toll on his body and mind, and swing changes, he is on the back 9 of his career.

But Tiger, being Tiger, will take it as a challenge. Motivation.

[rehmwa]

He already has. Tiger Woods is credited with 106 professional wins (79 on the PGA Tour) and Arnold Palmer is credited with "only" 95 (62 on the PGA Tour).

EDIT: I'm not sure if the numbers I have (from Wikipedia) are double-counting the British Open as a win on each tour, like what sometimes happens when totaling a player's earnings.

you'll have to help me on that

somewhere I heard the numbers were something like 69 vs 72......maybe someone can clarify then what kind of "win" I'm wondering about...

Edit later:

found it - wrong guy.  He has 4 more to pass Snead apparently?  (79 vs 82)

[mmoan2]

So then Rory would be correct with what he said

I don't think he's factually wrong if he says the back 9. I recall the quote being the "last few holes," though. In fact, it was:

"They're just getting older," McIlroy said Wednesday at East Lake Golf Club. "Phil's 43 or whatever [actually 44], and Tiger's nearly 40 [39 in December]. So they're getting into the sort of last few holes of their careers, and that's what happens" Like you said, Phil's probably near done. maybe like on the tee at 17, so to speak. Tiger, who knows? Because of the talent level and promise of last year, I can see him winning well into his late 40s. Or I could see another major injury sidelining him and we have a press conference in two years where he declares he's quitting professional golf due to injury.

I also have no problem with him saying it, either. Just think it's a stick in the eye of Tiger, who could potentially whoop his butt during much of the "last few holes" of his career that include 30 more wins and 4 majors.