Woods v McIlroy: Tiger has his claws out for Rory at Augusta

US Masters / Romilly Evans / 04 April 2012 / Leave a Comment

McIlroy and Woods - a burgeoning rivalry

"McIlroy is more settled both professionally and personally. He's learned to trust his ability under the gun. This time round he won’t panic if he lets a stroke or two slip away."

Romilly Evans discusses the showdown between Masters favourites Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Does our man believe that an outsider could upset the odds?

A few months ago, many hacks were saying there was no way back for Tiger Woods and no stopping Rory McIlroy. Now, as the US Masters looms in to view, most of those same hacks are saying the only man who can stop Rory McIlroy is Tiger Woods. Golf can be a fickle game - and it seems to have fostered a press corps which reflects its very nature.

The truth, of course, is that Tiger has been on the way back for a while. All you had to do was look at his steadily improving game since the back-end of last year and the progress reports. Admittedly, the progress reports from the great man himself were subjective, but his fellow pros and practice partners all suggested he was on the verge of something great.

Those players included Arjun Atwal, Robert Allenby, Ernie Els and even Phil Mickelson - expert witnesses for the defence. All Woods needed was a win. And after a couple of near-misses, it came a fortnight back at Bay Hill where he blitzed a stellar field by five shots. The prosecution's case quickly folded and Woods was acquitted on charges of masquerading as the game's greatest.

Tiger was free to roam around his natural habitat of Augusta National. He was even re-installed as a firm favourite (currently available at [6.2] to back). However, a return to the good old days among these green Georgia pastures is by no means assured. The golfing landscape has changed and that's largely due to the emergence of McIlroy ([7.4] to back) a successful and hungry predator who has been stealthily stalking, waiting on the return of a healthy Tiger.

This time last year, McIlroy still had much to prove. His final-round implosion at Augusta was one of the biggest falls from grace in Masters history - and even left him languishing outside the top-ten. Rather than an Aladdin on the threshold of The Cave of Wonders, he was a young street rat struggling for survival and composure.

After the breakdown, though, came the breakthrough. And it arrived in quite spectacular fashion with his crowning procession at Congressional, leading from flag-fall to win by eight shots. The wunderkind had grown up. He hasn't looked back since, winning twice and finished no lower than third in nine of his last 12 events. His win at the Honda Classic, where he coolly staved off a charging Woods even handed him the number one ranking - making him its second-youngest incumbent (at 22) behind Tiger (21).

True, Luke Donald has borrowed top-dog status in the interim (as McIlroy took his now annual sabbatical to prepare for the Masters). But like Easter weekend itself, it's only lent. And speaking of Easter weekend, there can be no ignoring its propensity for comebacks from the dead. McIlroy, for his part, now has to deal with the Tiger's second coming. Not that the Ulsterman sounds concerned. "It's great for the game. I want to test myself against the best, at their best. And for me, that means going down the stretch with Tiger." Bring it on.

Of course, Woods' renaissance does provide the neat side-effect of deflecting some of the attention away from McIlroy. "I'm going in with a lot more scrutiny because of what happened last year," he continued. "It's just something that I'll have to deal with but Tiger's win certainly helps." In any case, McIlroy is a totally different proposition this term after a milestone 2011 campaign. He is more settled both professionally and personally and has learned to trust his ability under the gun. This time round he won't panic if he lets a stroke or two slip away.

Nevertheless, Woods remains the consummate and proven major performer with four Green Jackets and numerous close shaves. Which is probably why he can afford to sound the more phlegmatic of the pair. "Listen, I've gone into Augusta with wins and without wins. You're looking for one week, that's all. I understand how to play Augusta National. It's just a matter of executing the game plan."

That said, Tiger hasn't executed his gameplan since the 2008 US Open, marooned on 14 majors - four short of Jack Nicklaus' record haul. Time was when passing that mark was simply a matter of time. Now the man with time on his side isn't Woods but McIlroy. Tiger's very urgency could be the one thing that undoes his challenge this week.

Does that leave the door ajar for McIlroy? Well, yes and no. The trouble with contests billed as two-horse races is that a dark horse often arrives to spoil the party. Take this year's Gold Cup for example, a supposed straight duel between Kauto Star and Long Run. The result: one pulled up, the other finished third. Phil Mickelson, who can lay claim to the best course form of anyone in the field, is always a threat and will be popular with those who like to back the outsider of three. Then there's the small matter of the other 94 runners, many of whom are decidedly in-form.

However, what is for certain is that fans can rejoice in a burgeoning new rivalry that we looked set to miss out on. The express train to major greatness had asked Tiger to hop off at Platform 14 and picked up Rory in his place. It was a sliding doors moment. Praise be that the driver had a change of heart and let Tiger back on. Next stop: Augusta.

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US Open Reaction: Salute magnificent McIlroy but don't back a repeat of the Tiger era

Golf > General > US Open Reaction: Salute magnificent McIlroy but don't back a repeat of the Tiger era

View Market General / Paul Krishnamurty / 21 June 2011 / Leave a Comment

Woods and McIlroy together in California last year

"Golf and golf betting are completely different than they were during the Tiger era, and it would be unrealistic to expect Rory or anyone else to emulate Woods' dominance."

Paul Krishnamurty was as impressed as anyone by the young Irishman's performance at Congressional. However, it's unlikely that he will emulate Tiger's other-stratospheric feats and punters should remember that.

For now, we must bask in the moment. We've just witnessed an incredible feat, and a new British sporting hero has emerged. With some of the other 'icons' that represent, say, our football teams in mind, we should celebrate the fact that Rory McIlroy seems such a likeable, genuine bloke. It is unbridled good news for British golf, in particular Northern Ireland, which has now produced the last two US Open winners. Rory's breakthrough is exactly what the sport needed, especially with its talisman Tiger Woods increasingly resembling a spent force.

Having spent a relatively quiet trading weekend pondering Rory's sensational performance, I've concluded that it was the fourth best I've ever seen. For the record, the other three were all produced by Tiger - in no particular order, his first Masters victory, by 12 strokes just a few months after turning pro. His 15-shot victory in the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach, and again when landing this major in 2008, despite playing 90 holes with a broken leg.

I couldn't agree more with Steve Rawling's analysis that after such a performance, Rory is the real world number one, even if the rankings don't quite reflect it yet. Moreover, having captured the public imagination in spectacular style, he's certainly the punters' favourite, as illustrated by the massive gamble underway for next month's Open Championship. McIlroy's odds for the Sandwich showpiece have halved into [7.4] over the last few days, and were he to win in the meantime, would probably shorten to Tiger-esque levels.

At this point, serious punters must take a step back. No matter how good they are, everyone has their price, and I would struggle to manufacture an argument for backing any golfer nowadays at such short odds. Ultimately, golf and golf betting are completely different than they were during the Tiger era, and it would be unrealistic to expect Rory or anyone else to match Woods' former dominance.

Tiger transformed golf single-handedly. Before that first Masters title, Woods shared favouritism with much older players like Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and Fred Couples. Within months it became clear that they were yesterday's men. That isn't the case with Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, who are at their peak right now and remain as likely as anyone to win big events.

For roughly a decade, Woods was playing a different game to the rest. He had seemingly super-human ability, and a machine-like temperament, capable of stepping up a gear whenever required. I always argued that Tiger's only sporting equivalent was Sir Donald Bradman, whose 99.99 Test average remains in a completely different stratosphere to anyone else. However good Rory is or will become, it is unlikely that will ever be said of him.

Woods inspired a new generation, that would take several years to emerge. McIlroy is the first to reach super-stardom, but there is no shortage of alternatives. The USA has Rickie Fowler, Italy has Matteo Manassero, Japan has Ryo Ishikawa. Emerging golf superpowers like South Korea can boast numerous brilliant youngsters. My favourite is Aussie Jason Day, who did me an enormous favour yesterday by winning 'without McIlroy'. To finish runner-up on both his Masters and US Open debuts, two majors that usually reward experience and penalise novices, is a huge achievement. Day has less top-notch experience than Rory, and could well reach the same level over the next year or so.

Whoever fares best amongst them, dominating that lot will be impossible in my view. Moreover, by the time Rory hits 30, there's bound to be another dozen or so youngsters emerging, and prompting exactly this type of discussion.

More immediately though, we must look to Sandwich, where Rory's chance depends on the weather. In calm conditions, McIlroy is probably the best links player around. Even before he turned pro, he'd mastered the secrets of links golf, growing up in Northern Ireland. However, in windy conditions, Rory's high ball-flight has looked a serious handicap, and he lacks the verstility to cope. Take last year's Open for example, where he began with 63 in benign conditions at St Andrews, only to follow up with 80 when the weather turned for the worse the following day.

With his reputation and popularity at an all-time high, I expect the money will continue to flood in before the Open, but punters would be well advised to check the draw and weather forecast before parting with any cash.

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