Is McIlroy or Woods Best? An Exhibition Game Will Tell!
When Rory McIlroy won the PGA Championship last weekend, he became the youngest golfer since Seve Ballesteros to win two majors at the tender age of 23. He also got people talking about one year ago, when Padraig Harrington claimed that McIlroy, not Tiger Woods, would be the one to beat Jack Niclaus’ winning record of 18 majors. As of this fall, everyone can stop wondering, as the two greats will tee off against each other in an exhibition game in China.
On October 29, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will play 18 holes against each other at the Lake Jinsha International Golf Club in China. The two will meet there after competing in their own individual tournaments around Asia. Woods will be at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia from October 25 — October 28; and McIlroy will be playing at the BMW Masters in Shanghai during the same dates. It’s only the second year for this tournament; and McIlroy is the defending champion from last year’s inaugural run. But all that will be set aside when the two meet on October 29.
“I’m sure this gives it a little more pop,” said Mark Steinberg at Excel Sports Management, Tiger Woods’ agent. “Rory has moved to No.1 in the world, and clearly they are the two most recognizable names in golf.” He continued on to say that this would be a huge boon to customer entertainment.
But what’s the big attraction, anyway? It’s not like Woods and McIlroy have never met before on-course. They played together early in the year at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, and by the time October rolls around, the two will also have played together at The Barclays, when the FedEx Cup playoff rounds start. So why should the two meeting again be any different than any other two golf greats meeting again?
McIlroy puts it best himself when he says, “It’s an exciting concept and it will be a lot of fun going head to head with Tiger. The Duel at Jinsha Lake will be the first time myself and Tiger have come together to play a “one-off” match like this, so I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve always looked up to him as a player. What he’s achieved in the game is remarkable.”
Yes, that’s just it — it will be the first time the two are squared off against each other, head-to-head. And it will be remarkable. It will also means that after the tournament, the real comparisons can begin.
Categorized in: Golf