Rory wants to duel with Tiger now
Source: Agencies |
June 21, 2011, Tuesday
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RORY McIlroy has realized one of his dreams with a record-shattering romp to victory at the US Open on Sunday for his first major title but the 22-year-old now yearns to test himself against his golf idol, Tiger Woods.
"When I was growing up, I always had putts to beat Tiger Woods in the Masters or the US Open," said McIlroy. "So it would be great to be able to get in contention one day .... and go down the stretch with him because I've never really had that experience before.
"Hopefully he can get healthy and can get back playing good golf, because the game of golf is a better place with him playing well," he said of Woods, who missed his first US Open in 16 years due to leg injuries.
The Ulsterman's performance filled the void left by Woods, breaking five scoring records at the 111th edition of the US Open at rain-softened Congressional in Bethesda, Maryland.
McIlroy pulverized the field in a rout reminiscent of Woods's own runaway wins at the 1997 Masters and 2000 US Open.
His final-round 69 gave him a 268 total that shattered the previous US Open record co-owned by Woods by four strokes. Being 16-under for the championship was also four shots better than the old record set by Woods in 2000 at Pebble Beach.
The new champion said he tried to emulate 14-time major winner Woods at Congressional.
"Just growing up and watching him, watching him dominate at the Masters at '97, watching him dominate at Pebble in 2000 and St Andrews and just trying to go out there with the same intensity that he has."
With his first major in the bag, McIlroy is already being asked how many more he will win.
"When you win a major quite early in your career, everyone is going to draw comparisons, it's natural," he said of three-time US Open winner Woods.
"It would just be nice obviously for him to be healthy again and get his knee and his Achilles in shape and be back out on the golf course, because he does bring a little something extra to tournaments. He's Tiger Woods.
"I'm just happy to be sitting here with the trophy that has his name on it."
"When I was growing up, I always had putts to beat Tiger Woods in the Masters or the US Open," said McIlroy. "So it would be great to be able to get in contention one day .... and go down the stretch with him because I've never really had that experience before.
"Hopefully he can get healthy and can get back playing good golf, because the game of golf is a better place with him playing well," he said of Woods, who missed his first US Open in 16 years due to leg injuries.
The Ulsterman's performance filled the void left by Woods, breaking five scoring records at the 111th edition of the US Open at rain-softened Congressional in Bethesda, Maryland.
McIlroy pulverized the field in a rout reminiscent of Woods's own runaway wins at the 1997 Masters and 2000 US Open.
His final-round 69 gave him a 268 total that shattered the previous US Open record co-owned by Woods by four strokes. Being 16-under for the championship was also four shots better than the old record set by Woods in 2000 at Pebble Beach.
The new champion said he tried to emulate 14-time major winner Woods at Congressional.
"Just growing up and watching him, watching him dominate at the Masters at '97, watching him dominate at Pebble in 2000 and St Andrews and just trying to go out there with the same intensity that he has."
With his first major in the bag, McIlroy is already being asked how many more he will win.
"When you win a major quite early in your career, everyone is going to draw comparisons, it's natural," he said of three-time US Open winner Woods.
"It would just be nice obviously for him to be healthy again and get his knee and his Achilles in shape and be back out on the golf course, because he does bring a little something extra to tournaments. He's Tiger Woods.
"I'm just happy to be sitting here with the trophy that has his name on it."
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