By F. Edwin Miller
The beast of the PGA Tour jungle has reclaimed his spot atop the World Golf Rankings. That beast is not a tiger…or is it?
(Andrew Redington, Getty Images North America)
On Sunday, “the beast,” Rory McIlroy dominantly stroked his way to a PGA Championship win at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course by a record-setting eight shot lead. The tournament solified a second major title (2011 U.S. Open) for 23-year-old McIlroy; yet, it also solified his place amongst major company. Tiger Woods, who finished in a frustrating seven-way tie for eleventh at Kiawah, owned two major wins at the age of 23. Comparisons between the two will inevitably continue for the rest of McIlroy’s career; yet, Sunday’s finish opens up one essential question: what will he have to do to stay atop of the World Golf Rankings and atop of Woods in 2013?
With only four years of professional experience, 24-year-old Woods had already won six major titles. However, McIlroy will enter his seventh professional year at 24 as only a two-time major winner. Evaluating the two by major wins after six, not even seven, professional years could only make catching Woods more difficult for McIlroy. To spare McIlroy even more trouble, let’s simply measure the two by age.
(Doug Pensinger, Getty Images North America)
In 2000, 24-year-old Tiger Woods won a career-high nine PGA Tour events and produced one of the greatest years in golf history. Three of those events (U.S. Open, Open Championship, PGA Championship) capped off a record year for Woods (in majors) as he nearly completed a Grand Slam. As for the soon-to-be 24-year-old McIlroy, well, he must win at least three majors to stay on track with Tiger next year.
Good luck earning your (tiger) stripes McIlroy, you’ll need it.
