Rory McIlroy appeared to arrive in the big time at the perfect time, with golf fans getting their first indication that Tiger Woods may be mortal after all after more than a decade of dominance from the 15-time major champion.
Rory McIlroy marked his major championship debut by finishing as the low amateur at the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie. He would turn professional later that year, and he would secure his first victory on the European Tour early on in 2009.
It would also be in 2009 that McIlroy would get the chance to make his Masters debut – as one legendary figure made his final appearance in the event.
After 52 appearances and three wins, Gary Player said goodbye to Augusta National. And ahead of that week’s event, the South African was asked about McIlroy.
The advice Gary Player gave Rory McIlroy before his Masters debut
He commented on Mark O’Meara claiming earlier in the year that McIlroy was ahead of where Tiger Woods was (via Telegraph). Meanwhile, he offered the youngster some advice ahead of his bow amidst the Georgia pines.
“I would say that I played with this young boy, Louis Oosthuizen today. Wow, I was impressed with this young guy. He’s having quite a meteoric rise and I had never played with him,” he said.
“I said, you play well enough to win, you must understand that. And same to Rory. He must not come here just as an experience. This guy, Rory, Mark O’Meara said he’s as good at this age as Tiger was. I was quite shocked to hear that, because I’ve never seen Rory play.
“If you think of Tiger Woods, to digress for a minute. I won the Grand Slam at 29 and I thought, wow, and I wanted to beat Jack Nicklaus to do that so badly and I did it. And here I’m kidding myself, well, who will ever win the Grand Slam at 29 again.
“And Jack comes along and wins it at 26 and Tiger wins it at 24. Actually I think that’s probably the greatest feat that’s ever been accomplished in world sport, to win the Grand Slam at 24, because everybody in this room knows what a tough game and how competitive golf is.
“So Rory must now say to himself, look, you must use Tiger as a role model and raising the bar. He won the Grand Slam at 24, so I’ve got to move and I’ve got the game. Because he’s really, I don’t know where he’s ranked, what is he, 16th or 15th in the world? It’s remarkable. And what a beautiful swing, having only seen him on television. And it’s a lovely story with his parents making a sacrifice and Ireland, a great country for golf.
“Really, he’s remarkable, and the world is at his feet.”
How McIlroy has fared at the Masters across his career
McIlroy has something of a love-hate relationship with Augusta National. He has done just about everything at the course without winning. Of course, his best chance came at 2011 when he appeared to already have one arm inside a green jacket before he threw it away on the back nine on Sunday.
He has finished in the top 10 on seven occasions in 16 appearances, with four top fives. He also went on a remarkable run of five straight top 10 finishes in the event.
| Rory McIlroy’s Masters career | |
| Events played | 16 |
| Cuts made | 13 |
| Top 10s | 7 |
| Top 5s | 4 |
| Best finish | 2nd (2022) |
It does appear that McIlroy is going to finish his career some way short of Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods when it comes to major wins. But he is most definitely going to be considered an all-time great.
And he remains just a Masters win away from completing the career grand slam.
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