Rory credits Tiger for American major dominance
Even though Tiger Woods has not won a major championship in a decade, he deserves credit for recent American dominance of the biggest events, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy said on the eve of the US Open.
All four majors are now in American hands after Patrick Reed’s win at the Masters in April, which followed victories by Brooks Koepka (US Open), Jordan Spieth (British Open) and Justin Thomas (PGA Championship) last year.
The US also holds the Ryder Cup ahead of September’s biennial showdown with Europe, and continues to routinely give the International team a shellacking at the Presidents Cup.
McIlroy says the current generation have been inspired not only by growing up watching Woods at his peak, but also getting to know him as a person.
“They have probably a couple of guys, but one in particular that they try to emulate who’s back out here playing, and he’s become a friend of theirs,” McIlroy said.
“A lot of these guys have gotten to know Tiger and being able to say, ‘OK, this is what he does, we mightn’t be able to achieve everything that he has, but we can at least try’.
“I think that’s been a huge thing for Ryder Cups and Presidents Cup, and for them as individuals as well.”
McIlroy has won four majors, but has not tasted victory since the 2014 PGA Championship, a drought he hopes to end at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday.