Tiger “ordinary golfer” now – R-Mac

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March 4, 2011

Rory McIlroy has once again taken a crack at Tiger Woods by describing him as “just an ordinary golfer”.

Tiger, who was won 14 majors and more than 80 worldwide tournaments overall in a glittering career that has seen him go from being a perennial multi-winner to an 18-month non-winner since revelations of his secret life outside of his marriage hit the headlines at the end of 2009.

The former long-time World No 1 has also been changing his swing during this period but apart from isolated moments and an occasional round when the golfing world has seen glimpses of his former greatens, he hasn’t been able to rediscover his winning formula, most notably with two of the key clubs in his bag, his driver and his putter.

And it’s on the evidence of his most recent performances which have dropped him down to No 5 on the World Rankings list, That McIlroy has described him as “just an ordinary golfer”, who he didn’t think could ever dominate the sport again in the manner he used to

“I wasn’t playing against Tiger Woods when he had that aura – I was watching on TV!’ McIlroy says on the American website golf.com.

“I remember getting nervous when I first met him. I was 15. There was a presence about him. There still is to some extent, but when you’re on the golf course you simply block it out.

“But Tiger is not playing as well as he was even a couple of years ago, never mind going back to the late 1990s and early 2000s, when he was at his best.

“I’m not sure we are going to see him dominate again the way he did. He never seemed like he would make a mistake.

“It’s not that he’s playing badly. He’s simply playing badly by Tiger’s standards. He’s playing like an ordinary golfer.”

Lee Westwood, who earlier in the week had said, “Class is permanent. Form is fickle. I am wise enough to know not to write him off,” didn’t hesitate to disagree with McIlroy and stand fast in his defence of Woods.

The smiling Englishman said: “That’s the answer a 21-year-old would give – 37-year-olds are a little wiser,” Westwood said.

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