Rory McIlroy: I'm not awed by Tiger anymore
Newly crowned US Open champion, Rory McIlroy said that he is ready to become the next world number one and although he has great respect for Tiger Woods and his achievements, he himself has what it takes to compete
with Woods.
The 22-year-old was speaking to reporters at a press conference, “I respect everything that Tiger has done, but I am a competitor of his now. I can't be in awe of what he does."
McIlroy has been at the center of controversies ever since last year, when he challenged Woods during the Ryder Cup. Watching Woods lose all his accolades and eventually, the world number one rank, gave courage to McIlroy to confront
him and proclaim himself as better than the 14-major winner.
The 22-year-old Northern Irishman gave these comments in response to the questions thrown at him by the press regarding Woods, who is doubtful of competing in the Open Championship, the third major of the season.
The 35-year-old veteran, Woods pulled out of US Open after failing to recover fully from his lingering knee injury, which he incurred during the final round of the Masters. Although he finished fourth in the competition, he could
not compete in other tournaments to reclaim a position he ruled for five years.
Commenting on Woods’ personal life, McIlroy said that he would try not to make the same mistakes committed by Woods, while he was at his career peak.
McIlroy went on to add, “As a golfer you grow up and all you try to do is imagine winning tournaments, and becoming the best golfer you can be. But you don't realise everything that comes along with that - the fame, the attention
- and it is something that I will just have to deal with.”
Woods started to slip off the Official World Golf Rankings in 2001, after he failed to win a trophy at the majors. In addition to that, he could not make a breakthrough in any of the tournaments that took place in the season. The
possible reason of his fall was reported as weakness in his swings and his divorce with his wife, Elin Nordegren. The couple split after Woods confessed about his sexual intimacies with several ladies.
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