McIlroy not rattled by Tiger or Phil quips
McIlroy and Woods had spent Monday together in New York attending a Nike equipment launch at the Liberty Golf Club before appearing together on the Jimmy Fallon Show.
Before the injured Woods headed home to Florida it seems the injured 14-time Major winner could not resist having a friendly dig at now four-time Major-winning McIlroy.
“We talked about a few things and Tiger’s telling me like I’m not going to let you win a green jacket next year and that he’s going to,” said McIlroy.
“I just responded to Tiger saying I am looking forward to the challenge but he’s super competitive.
“I might not look it but I’m the opposite. I’ve got a very competitive spirit but it would only be on a golf course. Like I’ll let someone win in a game of pool. I don’t care about that.
“But golf is my thing to be competitive at and it’s my thing to succeed in, so of course I’m really competitive, and even if it doesn’t look it, on the inside I’m trying to beat those guys to death on the course.”
However, McIlroy admitted he let Woods get the better of him in their recent ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ that’s now gone viral on social media websites.
“I actually put more water and ice in my bucket to tip over Tiger than he did with me but then I ended up getting absolutely soaked through,” he smiled.
“However, I didn’t mind as it was all for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosisa) which is a great cause.”
But then another of McIlroy’s rivals in Mickelson left the 25-year-old smiling but speechless when he jokingly asked if he could ‘hit through’ on the last hole during yesterday’s Pro-Am.
Mickelson was walking up to the 17th green of the Ridgewood Country Club yesterday when he spotted McIlroy on the tee of the nearby 18th that is located at a right-angle to the 17th.
“Hey, Rory? Do you mind if we can hit through,” shouted Mickelson in reference to the ‘darkness’ scenario on the final hole of last fortnight’s US PGA Championship.
McIlroy saw the funny side of the remark ahead of the serious start today to the four-event FedEx Cup Play-Off Series, and especially after having finished runner-up in 2012 and now looking also for a fourth victory in succession, and the eventual $10m extra winning pot of gold in a month’s time in Atlanta.
“The FedEx Cup is my next goal, so I’m going to put everything into that,” he said.
Joining McIlroy will be fellow Irishman Graeme McDowell and defending champion Adam Scott, who joined others in singing the praise of McIlroy’s efforts in recent weeks.
“In the week before the Open it was the ‘Friday curse’ and ‘Rory’s cursed’ and since then he’s been blessed,” said Scott.
“Rory’s had a whole career in four weeks. That’s a Hall of Fame career in four weeks out here. That’s amazing golf.”
Tee times: Rory McIlroy — 1.26pm Irish time; Graeme McDowell — 5.33pm Irish time.
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