Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are sometimes in contrast, given their dominance on the PGA Tour, however one is the clear superior within the eyes of 1 legend.
Luke Donald has mentioned up to now Rory McIlroy is superior to even Tiger Woods (Picture: Getty Photos)
British golf legend Luke Donald has hailed Rory McIlroy as essentially the most gifted golfer he is encountered on the PGA Tour, and that encompasses Tiger Woods. Woods incessantly dominates such discussions when debating the game’s best of all time, but Donald has lengthy since mentioned the benefit lies with McIlroy.
Donald, 47, joined the PGA Tour in 2002 and grew fairly acquainted with going through Tiger regularly. Consequently, the Englishman witnessed Woods at his absolute peak, with the 15-time main winner accumulating nearly all of these titles in the course of the early 2000s. McIlroy, 36, emerged barely later after turning skilled in 2007. Nonetheless, the previous wonderkid, who has partnered with Woods in co-founding Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), rapidly left an indelible mark on his future Ryder Cup skipper.
“I’ve all the time mentioned that of the blokes I’ve performed with out right here on Tour, Rory has essentially the most expertise,” Donald informed reporters again in 2011 forward of that yr’s DP World Tour Championship (then the Dubai World Championship). “The sky is the restrict.
“He is younger, he is bought an important future forward of him, and I see him successful a lot of tournaments and many majors. I am not shocked the yr that he is had, he in all probability hasn’t gained as a lot as he thought, however he is bought time for that, and I am certain he’ll put up problem this week.”
These feedback are significantly important contemplating they have been made earlier than McIlroy’s full emergence as a {golfing} famous person. On the time of Donald’s reward, McIlroy had solely two PGA Tour victories beneath his belt, one in all which was the 2011 US Open.
Since then, the Northern Irishman has added a formidable 27 extra PGA Tour titles to his tally, and is one in all solely six individuals to have accomplished the profession Grand Slam. He has additionally participated in eight Ryder Cups, successful six of them, with Donald captaining him within the final two.
Apparently, that is one space the place McIlroy statistically outperforms Woods. Regardless of being 13 years older than McIlroy and having competed in the identical variety of Ryder Cups, Woods has solely been on the successful facet as soon as.
McIlroy and Woods have turn out to be fond associates and enterprise companions (Picture: AP)
Nonetheless, in relation to particular person statistics, Woods’ report is difficult to dispute. The 49-year-old shares the report for essentially the most PGA Tour victories (82, alongside Sam Snead), holds the bottom profession scoring common on the Tour and has earned more cash than some other golfer within the competitors’s historical past.
Solely Jack Nicklaus, with 18 main titles, has gained greater than Woods, who’s the youngest participant to finish the profession Grand Slam. The Californian has additionally triumphed in 14 of the 15 majors the place he entered the ultimate spherical with not less than a share of the lead, whereas McIlroy has suffered a number of late collapses on golf’s greatest levels.
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Since Donald made these feedback almost 14 years in the past, McIlroy’s fame has skyrocketed regardless of a wait of greater than a decade between his two most up-to-date main wins. Regardless, the rivalry between McIlroy and Woods is only amicable, with the pair forming an in depth bond over time.
Woods now not poses the identical menace to his mate on account of persistent damage issues lately. Nonetheless, he was nonetheless comparatively close to his peak when Donald recognized a sure lad from Holywood because the superior expertise.
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