Warning: mysqli_query(): (HY000/1030): Got error 28 from storage engine in /home/sportsun/public_html/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 1942

Rory McIlroy is only 21 years old, but he’s ranked 7th in the world and has been hyped up as the European Tour’s version of Tiger Woods. McIlroy has yet to win a major, but finished tied for 3rd at last weekend’s PGA Championship and last month’s British Open.  Whether its confidence or overconfidence, McIlroy has been the loudest European to openly talk trash about facing Tiger Woods in this year’s Ryder Cup, which Tiger isn’t even guaranteed to be a part of.

McIlroy recently got his name in the papers by saying that he’d love to get matched up against Tiger at the Ryder Cup, and that he thinks any of the 12 guys on the European Tour would be very confident to play against Tiger.  “I would love to face Tiger,” said the 21-year-old phenom from Northern Ireland. “Unless [Tiger’s] game rapidly improves in the next month or so, I think anyone in the European team would fancy his chances against him.”

Sure, McIlroy adds that qualifying “Unless Tiger’s game rapidly improves,” but that’s a double-edged sword.  Obviously, if Tiger continues to play like a guy who’s only shot five sub-70 rounds all year, he’s not going to intimidate anyone the way he used to. But just to make the comment, it sounds like McIlroy doesn’t think there’s a very good chance Tiger’s game will improve rapidly enough for him to be much of a threat in October.

McIlroy is also pretty sure US Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin will name Tiger to the US team:

There are a lot of Americans playing better than him at the minute, but … I’m sure we’ll probably see Tiger in Wales. … it’s always an advantage to have Tiger in your team. I don’t think it would go down too well in the States if he wasn’t picked.

McIlory could easily sees his comments as just being honest and not meant to be disrespectful.  The prudent thing to do would be to just say Tiger’s still the best player in the world, and as good as he’s been in the past no one is taking beating him for granted.  If the kid can back up his big talk, good for him for injecting a little honesty, personality and swagger into the golf world.  But that’s still a pretty big if.