DESPITE JOINING JACK Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as just the third player to win three majors before the age of 26, Graeme McDowell does not believe Rory McIlroy can go on to dominate the sport the way they did.
Speaking as the newly-installed world number two wrapped up the Open on Sunday, McDowell admitted his fellow Northern Irishman has the ability to prove him wrong but there are “too many good players now” to dominate.
“A third leg of a Grand Slam at 25, that’s pretty good.
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“Will we ever see that dominant player again? It’s tough to say. We have the beginnings of one in Rory, but by his own high standards he stuttered for a year and a half or so. Did Tiger have a year and a half or two years early on in his career?
“I don’t think we’ll ever see the dominance of Tiger Woods, late ’90s, early 2000s, I don’t think we’re ever going to see that again. For every Rory there’s an Adam Scott and Jordan Spieth and Sergio Garcia and a Tiger and a Phil.
“There’s too many good players now. It’s so deep. It’s so strong.”
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
McIlroy’s problem, according to McDowell is that you can’t “perfect the imperfectable.”
“This game is hard. You can’t play much better than Rory is hitting the ball. That’s as good as it gets.
“Unfortunately you can’t hole every putt, or else you’d be shooting 58 every day.”
McDowell also spoke about the “golden generation” of golfers from the island of Ireland and how exciting it is to be involved in the sport here.
“Eight major championships, we have Padraig Harrington, Rory, myself and Darren. It’s added something to the pot. It’s exciting.”
McIlroy can't dominate like Tiger because 'for every Rory there's an Adam Scott' - GMac
DESPITE JOINING JACK Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as just the third player to win three majors before the age of 26, Graeme McDowell does not believe Rory McIlroy can go on to dominate the sport the way they did.
Speaking as the newly-installed world number two wrapped up the Open on Sunday, McDowell admitted his fellow Northern Irishman has the ability to prove him wrong but there are “too many good players now” to dominate.
“A third leg of a Grand Slam at 25, that’s pretty good.
“Will we ever see that dominant player again? It’s tough to say. We have the beginnings of one in Rory, but by his own high standards he stuttered for a year and a half or so. Did Tiger have a year and a half or two years early on in his career?
“I don’t think we’ll ever see the dominance of Tiger Woods, late ’90s, early 2000s, I don’t think we’re ever going to see that again. For every Rory there’s an Adam Scott and Jordan Spieth and Sergio Garcia and a Tiger and a Phil.
“There’s too many good players now. It’s so deep. It’s so strong.”
McIlroy’s problem, according to McDowell is that you can’t “perfect the imperfectable.”
“This game is hard. You can’t play much better than Rory is hitting the ball. That’s as good as it gets.
“Unfortunately you can’t hole every putt, or else you’d be shooting 58 every day.”
McDowell also spoke about the “golden generation” of golfers from the island of Ireland and how exciting it is to be involved in the sport here.
“Eight major championships, we have Padraig Harrington, Rory, myself and Darren. It’s added something to the pot. It’s exciting.”
Opinion: Rory’s Open win showed that the Tiger Woods era is over
Same Ryder Cup time, new Ryder Cup channel
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Golf Graeme McDowell Rory McIlroy Tiger Woods too good