The build up to the 2010 Ryder Cup continues and on Wednesday, Colin Montgomerie felt obliged to explain how Rory McIlroy has been “quite upset” by the way the papers had reported his recent comments about Tiger Woods.
McIlroy said “Once I met Tiger, even before last year or whatever, you sort of realise that he just is a normal guy. He’s probably the best player that’s ever lived, and likely the greatest player that’s ever played the game.
“But you watch so much golf on TV, and you see so many things and you watch so many highlights – watching Tiger winning the Masters in ’97 and winning four majors in a row in 2000/2001, you sort of don’t really believe it. You put him on such a high pedestal and then you meet the guy and you realise that he’s obviously an unbelievable player, but he’s just a normal guy.
“Before I met him, you feel as if he’s superhuman. But once you meet him you realise he’s a normal guy and works hard on his game and gets the most out of it.
“But after what’s happened in the last 18 months, I suppose a little bit of that aura is probably gone.”
Quite high praise from young Rory I would say.
But as usual the press only feel obliged to quote the bit that suits them. They just take out the line saying ‘Tiger’s aura is gone’ and twist it and turn it into a negative situation.
McIlroy’s honesty when being interviewed is refreshing to hear, it is a total contrast to the exhibition of straight batting we were treated too from Woods in his press conference this week.
Sadly due to this exploitation of Rory’s honesty, I fear it won’t be too long before we see McIlroy forced to do the same!
