Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are arguably two of the greatest golfers to have ever played the sport. Both rose to prominence at a very young age, claiming 10 PGA Tour wins and four major victories by the age of 25!

Owing to their unparalleled achievements on the fairways, the two players have often been pitted against each other. A recent social media post has once again brought to light the differences between the two icons, inciting diverse reactions from fans.

The stark contrast between Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s careers comes to the surface

For years, many in the golf community have called the comparisons between Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy unfair, especially because both players entered their primes in different eras. But when two athletes dominate a sport the way these two golfers have, weighing them against each other is a given.

In fact, when McIlroy first started to turn heads, he was already being hailed as the “next Tiger Woods.” In 2010, he became the first player since Tiger Woods to win a PGA Tour event prior to his 21st birthday. As he rapidly collected four major victories between 2011 and 2014, the similarities between the two grew more apparent.

But, over the past decade, the Irishman has somewhat lost touch with his blistering ways on the greens. While the current World No. 3 remains one of the best players at the moment, the gap between his and Woods’ achievements only keeps on widening. An Instagram post by @foreplaypod has revealed that the 15-time major winner (93.2%) has been significantly more successful than McIlroy (55.6%) in converting 54-hole leads or co-leads into wins.

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While McIlroy has fared much better than other players over the last 15 years (35.1%), the fact that Woods transcends golf cannot be denied. It is not known when the 47-year-old, who is currently recuperating after his ankle surgery, will return to the game. However, most of his staggering accomplishments will undoubtedly remain unbroken for years to come.

Golf World pits Woods and McIlroy against each other

By age 32, Tiger Woods had already claimed 14 of his 15 major titles. Meanwhile, 34-year-old Rory McIlroy is still on the lookout for his fifth major title, his last one coming in 2014. Most recently, he missed out on a US Open win by mere inches, losing to Wyndham Clark by one shot. Under the Instagram post, one fan inquired, “How many years was he the ‘next Tiger’ according to golf Channel?” “He’s overrated,” said another.

The Irishman is currently at the helm of the leaderboard after 54 holes in the 2023 Scottish Open. One fan raised doubts about his chances of winning the tournament, writing, “Not with Tom Kim on your heels.”

Several fans commented that Woods is in an entirely different league of his own. “Sunday Tiger was a legit thing…” wrote one. “Helps when you often lead by 5+ shots,” commented another golf enthusiast. Meanwhile, one declared, “No question who’s goat in this.”

McIlroy’s last professional win came at the DP World Tour’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic over five months ago. In a few days, he will be competing at the 151st Open Championship in Hoylake, the same venue that served as the turf for his last major win nine years ago.

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Do you agree with the comparisons between the two golfers? Will McIlroy be able to end his major drought next week? Tell us in the comments!