BOL Round Table

Agree

Everybody is going to have a long way to go to be compared to Tiger, but their careers are pretty similar at the same age. Most non-golf fans don't understand just how unreal 12 top 5s in 13 starts in today's game is. Not to mention he has won 3 of those and finished 2nd 4 other times, and won the US Open by a billion shots before that. He led 3 consecutive majors at some point at 21-22 years old. He is the Euro Tiger, but he's not quite the short game maestro and putter Tiger was (although he is superior tee to green at the same age).

No doubt. Tiger was simply incredible in his self-belief. He was the GREATEST putter of all time by MILES when at his best, and he just looked like he knew he was going to make anything that really mattered. Even when he missed from 40 feet, they all looked like they were going in. I am not a Tiger fan, but I do like the fact he's "back". Unlike 2000, most of the young guns are not really scared of him so it should be exciting stuff the next 10 years.

Rory has the best swing in the world. He's an incredible ball-striker.

This guy has the ability to hold on to the #1 ranking for a pretty long time, mainly because he plays more events on the Euro Tour. It shows you how dilute the #1 ranking has been lately when a guy with only 6 professional wins is at the top. Top 5's and 10's are important to the rankings too, but wins always makes better statements. Good win for RM in a decent field. I hope the kid has changed his attitude in the past year because last year he was super brat...and from what I was told at times he could not keep his trap shut and was called a jerk by many from his own hometown in Northern Ireland. My parents went there less than 2 years ago and a lot of his own countrymen didn't like him at all, but they still wanted one of their own to do well nonetheless. BTW, according to my parents who are huge golf fans, not one person had anything bad to say about Graeme McDowell (both he and Rory are from Northern Ireland and both still live there). They say Graeme is the best ambassador out there, for them. At a local pub when my parents told them they were from Birmingham,AL their eyes lit up and the pub went crazy (Graeme played for UAB). The pints were on the house the rest of the night needless to say. What happened only a month later after my parents got back? Graeme won the US Open and first ever Northern Ireland winner of it. First Northern Ireland winner of a major since 1947 I was told too.
One thing is sure, I am sure glad RM got rid of his horrid hair fro and started working out some of that chubby fat. Get used to it boys, he should be the odds on favorite in all 4 majors this year. Great ball striker with crazy length off the tee and a really good confident putter. The whole Tiger comparisons are so stupid its laughable...laughable! Kid has 6 wins as a pro. Tiger did that in under 3 months before. I just think its stupid is all, because there is nothing that compares to the two. Any comparisons to these two are really just predictions through projections.

He was draining 10 to 15 foot par putts like they were nothing yesterday. That putting performance was amazing.

This....For me to even think about the comparisons to Woods, he better keep this up for several more years...then I can compare him to Tiger...got to keep it up...That's what separates the legendary golfers from everyone else...They perform at that level for many,many years

He's got a great chance to go on a run provided he stays with his instructor and doesn't mess with his swing. Then you have to look at off course distractions as a possible barrier. He's a very nice, polite kid. I met him in Houston and was duly impressed by his manners. He's an easy guy to support.

I am the only person that thought there was typo in the title and this thread was about Greg?

Morgan, I never said he wasnt deserving of #1. In fact, I said I look for him to stay at #1 for a long time. What exactly did you read from my post that I said he was not deserving? smh. I also said that I expect him to be the odds on favorite in all 4 majors this year.
I said that 6 international wins as a pro is not close to a comparison of anything Tiger-esque. You cannot compare with age either because TW went to college and RM did not. RM turned pro at 17 and TW was 21 when he went pro. The only way you can compare the two at all is "years as a pro". In TW's first 5 years on tour he had 24 PGA wins (not counting any international wins) and 5 majors. Compare this to RM first 5 years as an international professional. 6 international wins (3 PGA and 3 Euro) and 1 US Open win. Its just a little ridiculous to compare these two at all IMO. I am not a big Tiger fan either although I do think the game of golf is more entertaining when he's playing well. I pull for Phil because he's more fun to watch and his interaction with fans and charity involvement is 2nd to none. To answer your question about who I think #1 should be..Its obvious isn't it?..Rory. His game right now is poised for a nice long run at the #1 ranking. But this is the first week of being #1! Let it play out for Pete's sake at least one full golf season.

Rory has game. Beautiful swing and he can scramble. I'm excited to see what he can do.

I don't think the "years as a pro" method of comparing golfers is the way to go in this one. Was RM going to win pro tournaments as a 17 yr old? No. He was there to develop his game and prepare for a run in pro golf. TW went to college to develop his game and prepare for pro golf. Of course 22 year old Tiger coming out of college will be more prepared to win right away than 17yr old RM fresh out of Northern Ireland. I think this is a wait and see how it all shakes out type debate. RM is just getting rolling and has all the tools to win a lot. TW has already done that and is trying to do it again (although I doubt he ever will especially on the level he did before). Let's all agree to meet back here in 20 years and see how it worked out.