Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy went head-to-head at the 2012 Honda Classic in what many thought would be the first of several epic encounters.
Unfortunately, Woods‘ game deteriorated in 2014 as the 15-time major winner was hit with multiple injury issues. Of course, McIlroy went on to win the PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014, as well as the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
Over the years, mainly due to off-the-course circumstances, Woods and McIlroy haven’t had too many closely fought battles. Back in 2012 at PGA National, Woods’ final-round charge gave McIlroy something to think about.
Tiger shot 31 on both nines, including an eagle on the par-five 18th to pile the pressure on the Northern Irishman. McIlroy, however, held his nerve to clinch victory and rise to number one in the world.
What Tiger Woods said about Rory McIlroy becoming world number one
McIlroy’s victory saw him replace Luke Donald as the world’s top-ranked player. Woods, who would eventually regain the world number-one berth in 2013, praised the Northern Irishman’s consistency after finishing runner-up at the Honda Classic.
“And for him being No. 1, it’s a testament to how consistent he’s been,” McIlroy said. “You can’t get to No. 1 in the world unless you’re consistent, and he’s won a few times here and there, but he’s been very, very consistent. That’s what you have to do.
He added: “Of the three names you’ve mentioned, he’s got a major championship. From what I’ve heard, a lot of people are, how can you be No. 1 without ever winning a major.
“Being consistent. That’s just the way the points are deemed. That’s just how they are done. That’s how Westy got there; he was consistent, day in and day out. I think Rory has had, what, one finish out of the top ten, I think it was in the last ten starts or something like that. So that’s pretty impressive playing. That’s what you have to do. You’re not going to win every time you tee it up, but you can be consistent, you can be close and in the hunt, and that’s what he’s done.”
Rory McIlroy’s world number one status
McIlroy held the world number-one status for only two weeks before Donald regained it on March 17. The pair traded positions for the rest of 2012, and McIlroy held the spot from August 2012 to March 2013.
Woods would then return for a 60-week stint before Australian Adam Scott became the world’s best player in 2014. Woods’ world number one ranking 11 years ago was the last time he was objectively the best golfer on the planet.
McIlroy replaced Scott at the top of the OWGR in 2014 and spent 54 weeks at the summit, which was his long stint as the world’s best player.
The Northern Irishman was last world number one in February 2023. Scottie Scheffler, of course, currently holds the position and has done so since May 2023.
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