Five-time Major winning Phil Mickelson believes Rory McIlroy can become as good as Tiger Woods.
Mickelson is returning to competition in this week’s Barclays Championship in Paramus, New Jersey and the opening event of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Play-Off Series.
Despite the near darkness Mickelson got to see first hand McIlroy capture last fortnight’s PGA Championship at Valhalla to earn a fourth Major and just one less than the American.
“It’s incredible how well Rory is playing and it’s an incredible run,” said Mickelson.
“His level of play this last month has been exceptional.
“But then what I’ve seen over the years with Tiger and from 2000, and if you want to compare it with that, he’s got a ways to go.
Phil Mickelson wears his ‘dog tags’ for a photo shoot with US Marines.
“So to win an Open Championship, a PGA Championship and throw in a World Golf Championship in the middle then under anybody’s circumstances that is just a remarkable month of golf and some of the best I’ve seen.
“However if I go back to compare that run with something like Tiger has done, then Tiger has being doing that for something like that for over a decade plus.
“So I wouldn’t be surprised if Rory did it to. You never know he’s that good.”
However Mickelson also found himself again dealing with the scenario at the last hole of the 96th PGA Championship when Bernd Wiesberger, who was McIlroy’s playing partner over the final round, asked Mickelson and his playing partner Rickie Fowler, if he and McIlroy could play up the 72nd hole with Mickelson and Fowler.
Mickelson had been seen talking at length with an official but after finishing joint runner-up behind McIlroy ruled out any controversy.
However the American found himself ahead of this week’s Barclays Championship again being faced with what happened that Sunday in Louisville.
While Phil Mickelson spoke in glowing terms about Rory McIlroy the current World No. 1 was no in attendance today at Ridgewood Country Club. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“It is very calm for us to have players run ahead to tee off and get in by darkness, and that is absolutely normal,” said Mickelson.
“What we don’t normally do on the PGA Tour is to play up the last hole together as we usually all tee off the groups fall back in order.
“That was the only difference but it wasn’t going to affect the outcome and it’s only going to help the event finish on a Sunday particularly with all the people there and not having to come back the next morning for a couple of strokes.”
Mickelson’s Vahalla effort was his best finish this season in the four Majors after missing the cut in the Masters and then finishing T28th in the US Open and T23rd in the defence of his Open Championship title.
“The PGA Championship was a big week for me as it was the first time this year I got my game back,” he said.
“That gives me excitement and energy heading into the FedEx Cup and this week’s Barclays Championship here in New Jersey.
“It was so much fun being up there again the PGA Championship feeling the nerves and the excitement of it all.”
