World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is not the least interested in talk a new golfing rivalry with Masters Champion Jordan Spieth.
The golf world has been abuzz with such talk after Spieth moved to World No. 2 on the back of his Augusta National triumph and in the process slamming the door shut on McIlroy’s Grand Slam aspirations.
But then McIlroy distanced himself on the World Rankings from Spieth with victory in last week’s WGC – Cadillac Match-Play Championship.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy not at all interested in talk of a new rivalry with World No. 2 Jordan Spieth. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
And while McIlroy will play the opening two rounds of today’s (THUR) commencing Players Championship alongside Spieth and good friend, Jason Day, McIlroy remarked that’s about as close as he will entertain talk of a rivalry.
So it doesn’t do anything for me.”
However both players were a
“Such talk doesn’t do anything for me, not really,” he said.
“It’s been, like last year it was Rickie (Fowler), this year it’s Jordan, and it might then be someone else, could have been Tiger.
“There’s sort of been four or five rivalries over the past year (smiling).sked what part of each other’s game could they have and with Spieth commenting: “I would like to hit it as far as Rory does.”
McIlroy in return singled out Spieth’s putting.
“Jordan has been putting phenomenally well over the past few months and that’s been a big thing for him.”
McIlroy’s only real concern of late was girlfriend Erica Stroll who had to leave the San Francisco course mid-way through last Sunday’s Match-Play final after being struck down with a bout food poisoning.
It was also the reason why McIlroy remained in the Golden Gate City on Sunday night and did not return home to Palm Beach Gardens to 5.30pm local time Monday, and after having spent much of his birthday criss-crossing the US continent.
This week’s Players Championship is yet another historic first with five Irish-born players competing and just a month after similar scenario at the Masters and including Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Shane Lowry taking their place in this week’s $10m event.
