Rory McIlroy or Phil Mickelson, who has a bitter rivalry with Tiger Woods?
There have been many rivalries in golf – rivalries that changed and raised the level of the game, or that defined golf at one point or the other.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are two players whose rivalry has been propagated by the media to create a sense of competition in the golf arena.
Tiger Woods, an American professional golfer, ruled golf throughout the past decade. It was only recently that he conceded his top ranked position.
Woods has had one of the most glorious careers a golfer could have. He is considered to be one of the greatest players of golf ever.
A few years back, owing to a high profile divorce, Woods captured publicity for all the wrong reasons. He faced severe personal life problems and saw his marriage life come to an end.
As a golfer, Tiger Woods is incomparable.
Phil Mickelson, also an American professional golfer, grabbed his share of the limelight on the professional tour before Tiger Woods.
With four major titles to his name, Mickelson, a left-handed golfer, has got all the shots in the book. His credibility as a golfer is very high but comparing that to Woods is debatable.
The rivalry between the two Americans has been a topic of discussion among the critics. Some say that that Woods achieved all that he did due to the pressure he experienced while competing with Mickelson.
Mickelson is said to be one of the greatest of golf. Also his rivalry with Woods is one of its kind in the modern era.
On the other hand, most say that the rivalry between the two golfers has been propagated by the media.
Woods belonged to a league of his own, and the only player who was closest to him in terms of ranking and calibre was the left-handed golfer.
Hence, it can be concluded that the rivalry between Woods and Mickelson is highly overrated.
The newest asset for golf is the Northern Irish golfer, Rory McIlroy. He is said to be the best player of golf in the making, with the best talents to be seen in a long time.
Rory McIlroy has won two major titles up till now, currently being the number one golfer in the world.
Having ended his season with a bang when he won the DP World Tour Championship, McIlroy will be the top contender to a highly successful 2013 season.
Woods is close behind the youngster. He is currently the third ranked golfer in the world but has shown in the last months of the season that he is back to his usual form.
If Woods is able to return to the same form that he once showed while he was dominating the world of golf, the rivalry between the 23-year-old McIlroy and Woods will be something to look forward to in the next year.
However, it is pointless to say that the two players are currently rivals, as the duo does not have an extensive level of exposure to each other on the course.
The McIlroy-Woods rivalry is better than the Mickelson-Woods rivalry. The contention between the Northern Irish and The American is fresh, and the level of their game is the same.
Their play would definitely complement each other’s game. Moreover, they will be seen making each other’s life extremely tough on the fairways.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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