In their first head-to-head match since Rory McIlroy became the No. 1 player in the world, Tiger Woods handled the 23-year-old with ease, winning by six strokes the World Golf Finals in Turkey.
Woods shot a seven-under 64 — one of his stronger rounds of the year. McIlroy shot a 70.
Woods went on to lose to Justin Rose by a stroke in the semifinals, but the point was made. McIlroy is the target and although it was not a PGA Tour event, he did take him out. Convincingly.
Wonder what Greg Norman thought when he saw those results. It was Normal who said prior to the Ryder Cop at Medinah last month that Woods was “intimidated” by McIlroy. Woods laughed off the slight, but others, like Charles Barkley, thought Norman’s assertion ridiculous and even said he was disappointed Woods did not vehemently defend himself.
Woods, has moved on from the mini-issue, feeling relatively sure that such talk should not arise again.
Meanwhile, Woods discussed the possibility of joining the European tour. He had not given it much consideration, he said, since 2003. Since then, becoming eligible for the Euro tour got a little more difficult.
PGA Tour requires a minimum of 15 starts for membership, the European Tour 13 — up from 11 when he last considered joining 12 years ago.
“I knew I would have to play one or two more events back then when it was 11 but now that criteria is 13,” Woods, who is ranked second in the world and won three times this year on the PGA Tour. said. “I don’t know what my numbers are as I know I played 19 in the States this year and whether it crosses over or not, but I will again look at it.
“I did play Abu Dhabi but then 13 are certainly a lot more than 11, especially playing full time in the States.”
