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Rory McIlroy says Tiger Woods is not intimidated by him

Last updated on .From the section Golfcomments52

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy

World number one Rory McIlroy has dismissed claims that he "intimidates" 14-time major winner Tiger Woods.

McIlroy was responding to comments from Australian Greg Norman on the eve of the PGA Tour Championship in Atlanta.

Norman, who won two Opens, had claimed: "Tiger's really intimidated by Rory. I think he knows his time is up."

But McIlroy said: "Tiger's the biggest thing ever in our sport. How could a 23-year-old from Northern Ireland with a few wins intimidate him?"

McIlroy, himself a two-time major winner, and world number two Woods are first and second respectively in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup play-offs,external-link with both knowing that victory this weekend will give the winner the $10m (£7m) bonus on offer.

In a separate interview with BBC Sport, McIlroy said: "I don't see how any of the guys on tour could be intimidated by me.

"Maybe if it was matchplay and you were beating someone head-to-head every week, but that's not the way it is."

American Woods, 36, also rejected Norman's claims, saying: "It's not like somebody is going to take your block off. This is a different kind of sport - we play our own game and see where it falls at the end of the day.

"In tennis you can do that [intimidate] because you are playing against somebody. Here nobody is affecting your shots."

The three other players occupying the top five places in the FedEx Cup standings, Nick Watney, Phil Mickelson and Brandt Snedeker, also control their own destiny.

But any of the 30-strong field, which includes Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia, can win the FedEx Cup if the results of other players go their way.

"We play for a lot of money, for which we are very fortunate," said McIlroy, who has won three of his last four tournaments, including the US PGA in August.

"I would be disappointed to have played so well in the play-offs to then not finish it off. The money's nice, but I'm going to make plenty of money in my career so it doesn't really matter."

Woods ended his two-and-a-half-year wait for a PGA Tour title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in April and followed that up with two more victories.

And, as McIlroy strengthened his grip at the top of the play-off standings with success at the last two events, Woods took third at the Duetsche Bank Championship and then tied for fourth at the BMW Championship.

"This has been a really good season," said Woods. "I'm now one of the better drivers - that's exciting for me - and my short game is starting to come around too, which is nice."

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52 comments

  • Comment posted by Nick, at 21:48 19 Sep 2012

    22.

    The fact you said "stage" and think that everyone drives a buggy to the next hole (clearly haven't watched the PGA Tour) gives a clear indication you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

  • Comment posted by AndyC555, at 07:30 20 Sep 2012

    "The money's nice, but I'm going to make plenty of money in my career so it doesn't really matter."

    23 years old.

    And saying that about a $10m pay day.

    Playing a game.

    Mostly in the sunshine

    God, I hate him :-)

  • Comment posted by J Bowman, at 20:22 19 Sep 2012

    These former Champions especially the ones who blew tournaments only speak to the press to attract attention to themselves.

    Tiger intimidated-he's still almost number 1 in he world!

    Norman-shut up unless you have something constructive to say

  • Comment posted by U14966550, at 19:38 19 Sep 2012

    There's no question Tiger's best days are behind him and Rory's got more ahead. It's also very likely that Tiger knows this for himself. I really doubt that equates to being intimidated, though. If anything, he should be inspired to reach those heights again with such a great rival in front of him. See Roger Federer - his Wimbledon win this year was all the better for Djokovic's recent dominance.

  • Comment posted by U13887972, at 10:15 20 Sep 2012

    #12. Mark
    "This article, and all golf, snooker and darts articles belong not under sport, but with all the news about games and hobbies. They are indeed games of skill, but games nonetheless."

    So running as fast as you can from point A to point B in a straight line is more of a sport than 4 days of mental and physical pressure (try hitting a small dimpled ball as far and as accurately as Woods)?

  • Comment posted by U15430821, at 02:51 20 Sep 2012

    Well done Rory on such a balanced response from a very successful 23 year old. Wish there were more 23 yr olds with such sense!

  • Comment posted by BBCGuineaPig, at 20:25 19 Sep 2012

    The only thing that intimidates Tiger is Elin's lawyer.

  • Comment posted by Barca500, at 19:31 19 Sep 2012

    Why would a 14 time major winner be intimidated by anyone? Its a very bizarre thing to suggest.

    Mcllroy is a brilliant player, there is no doubt about that but I can't see Woods thinking about one player.

    Given that it isn't a one on one sport, it would be pretty hard to see one player intimidating another.

    Lets see if they meet in the Ryder Cup or are paired in the final round of a major.

  • Comment posted by U1745097, at 19:13 19 Sep 2012

    Greg Norman has a bug up his arse where Tiger's concerned for some reason. What was more laughable than his claim that Tiger is intimidated by Rory, was that he included himself in the company of Tiger, Nicklaus and Palmer (and soon to be Rory) as the greats of their era. He was a fine player, but 20-odd wins and 2 majors doesn't put you in that company mate.

  • Comment posted by sween, at 18:57 19 Sep 2012

    Well Greg - you would know all about intimidation and pressure - you've folded more times than a deck chair.

  • Comment posted by hardhit, at 18:54 19 Sep 2012

    Mr.Norman just reminiscing his own experience. I am sure Nick Faldo intimidated him so much its a scar on his mind. C'mon Mr.Norman somebody who won 14 majors is not going to be in that situation, otherwise they would not have won that many times, you simply want to hear your own voice. What is sure is your time has long gone.

  • Comment posted by U2364216, at 13:34 21 Sep 2012

    Rory is potentially a great golfer, Tiger for al his faults IS a great golfer, there appears to be a great deal of mutual respect and I am sure they are laughing about this as they tramp the fairways.

    Tiger when he went through a period of winning every time he turned up undoubtedly intimidated opponents, until Rory does the same he only has the potential to intimidate.

  • Comment posted by U14361172, at 14:50 20 Sep 2012

    Tiger is a great player at 36, but he's not as good as he once was and Tiger knows this. Also many will never forgive Tiger for his affairs he no longer has the Xfactor and he still throws clubs; so hardly a role model. I've also stating many times a man heading towards 40 will strugle to win majors. I doubt Tiger will dominate like prior to 2008 just accept it, Tiger has!

  • Comment posted by U10597527, at 14:46 20 Sep 2012

    I think that throughout the last couple of years Tiger has been convinced that he'll one-day return to dominate the top of the rankings.

    Seeing Donald or Westwood at the top won't have made him think otherwise but with Rory, it might be different.

    'Intimidate' isn't the right word for it but i definitely sense a 'humbling' in Tiger over the last couple of weeks in his interviews.

  • Comment posted by U15134994, at 09:27 20 Sep 2012

    Coming from Greg "Grand Slam of second places in Majors" this is a bit rich.

    If anything Woods will be galvanised by the competition with McIlroy.

  • Comment posted by U15007716, at 05:35 20 Sep 2012

    Greg Norman intimidated himself, reminds me of Stirling Moss the greatest Driver to never win a World Championship. Those demons never give up, it's why i love to watch Golf aka Tiger Wood :) it's a mind game, chess with balls even. Tiger shot himself and has spent his time in the desert, he's back with a Bang!

  • Comment posted by Funky, at 04:39 20 Sep 2012

    Greg Norman zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz his comments carry as much weight as Glenn McGrath predicting Australia will beat us at Test Cricket 5 -0. They should have asked Norman the questions while Nick Faldo was there.

  • Comment posted by Kennys_Heroes, at 01:52 20 Sep 2012

    @ 12 Mark

    Actually, the kind of entertainment where you need a bunch of judges to tell you if what you were watching was actually as good or bad as you thought it was & no-one ever wins unless 'they' say so - that's hardly a "Sport" to me.

    @ 25 Matt1878

    If a 'game' is a sport then so is Snap & Snakes & Ladders.

    Go Rory! Good sense of perspective.

  • Comment posted by U14972306, at 21:49 19 Sep 2012

    22. Mark
    How can a game where you can drive a buggy to the next stage rather than walk be called a sport?
    +++
    You can drive a can round a race track, is that not sport?

  • Comment posted by DaTroothurtzz, at 20:52 19 Sep 2012

    For someone like Greg Norman to come out with such unfounded and judgemental remarks only helps to expose his disregard and disrespect for Tiger Woods and so uses Mc Elroy as an excuse.
    For previous remarks made by him about Tiger in the past tells me that this man is a Bigot.

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