Rory McIlroy is one of the biggest names in golf to this day and he’s come across and played with some of the best to ever do it.
McIlroy, a four-time major winner, is very much the star name in modern golf – at least in Europe anyway – as he continues to battle towards winning an overdue fifth major and that all-important Masters title.
With the 2024 season close to an end now, McIlroy has still had a good year and is in the mix to be the Race to Dubai winner on the DP World Tour as well.
Of course, while McIlroy and the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele continue to play well, one man who hasn’t played well for a while is Jordan Spieth.
Spieth is now recovering from surgery on a hand injury and is expected to try and kick on in 2025.
As we know, Spieth is a multi-time major champion and has been a constant in US Ryder Cup teams for a while now.
However, that doesn’t mean he’s always impressed and according to Rory McIlroy, Spieth was pretty ‘average’ in his eyes when they first clashed.
Rory McIlroy shares his honest first impression of Jordan Spieth’s golf
Speaking to Kyle Porter from Normal Sport, McIlroy admitted that when he first came across Spieth, he wasn’t all that impressed at all.
“I remember the first time, I think I told you this, the first time I played with Jordan Spieth, 2013 San Antonio. And I played the first two days with him, and he missed the cut,” McIlroy said.
“And I’m like, ‘What is the big deal with this kid? Very average.’ And he comes on and nearly wins the grand slam two years later.”
Of course, Spieth has gone on to more than squash McIlroy’s initial opinion on him.
But it does also go to show the hard work that has to go into being a top golfer and that sometimes, it’s not always the most obviously talented players who deliver.
Spieth has been out of form a bit but he’s still a young man in golf terms and if he can get right in terms of fitness, he’ll be a contender again.
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