Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have been playing the same fairways of late. Firstly Adare Manor. Then Ballybunion. In recent days it has been the firm and fast fairways of the Old Course – ahead of this historic 150th Open. Yet as well as walking the same terrain the two are also singing from the same hymn when it comes to the R&A’s decision not to invite Greg Norman to either the Champions’ Dinner or the championship itself.
These day the Aussie’s name goes hand-in-hand with the start-up LIV Golf circuit which has rocked men’s professional golf to its foundations, but which has found Woods and McIlroy adopting similar stances in protecting the status quo against the new upstart.
Although his mind and, perhaps even more so, his body has been geared to getting ready for the championship ahead, Woods was shy in responding to a question relating to the absence of Norman when asked for his reaction.
“The R&A obviously have their opinions and their rulings and (made) their decision. Greg has done some things that I don’t think is in the best interest of our game, and we’re coming back to probably the most historic and traditional place in our sport. I believe it’s the right thing,” said Woods.
McIlroy, who has been one of the most vocal of all in his stance against LIV’s arrival, also backed the R&A for its stance in not inviting Norman, a two-time past champion, to the Home of Golf.
As McIlroy put it: “It’s The 150th Open Championship, and that’s what we need to focus on. I think the focus would have been taken away a little bit if he’d have been here. I supported that decision, and I think right now, because of everything that’s happening in the golf world, I think it was the right decision to be made. But if things change in the future, or whatever happens, who knows, but I could see a day where he’s certainly welcome back.
“But right now, just with everything going on, we want the focus to be on the 150th Open Championship and this being a celebration of a wonderful golf tournament and a wonderful game in general, and I think it was the right decision for that.”
And McIlroy, who has become firm friends with Woods since moving to the Jupiter area of Florida, appreciated just why the 15-times Major champion and winner of 82 PGA Tour titles (equalling the record of 82 wins by Sam Snead), would say what he said:
“I think the legacy that Tiger has built over 25 years, the platform for him to do it has basically been the PGA Tour. So I think he appreciates the platform that he was given at the very start and able obviously to play as good as he’s played, but then to have that platform to build his brand, too, and do everything else even just outside of hitting a golf ball that’s made him who he is.
“And (Tiger) is such a big guy on history and tradition. And he’s chasing a record that Sam Snead has held for I don’t know how many years, the amount of victories on the PGA Tour. I think those traditions and the history of the game are very important to him. And I think he doesn’t want to see that all go away. I think that’s a big part of the reason why his position is what it is.”
Tiger and Rory in tune on the hot topic . . . . and aiming to let their clubs do the talking at this historic championship, one which McIlroy described as being the “holy grail of our sport. . . . .not a lot of people are going to get that opportunity to achieve that, but that’s what winning an Open at St Andrews is. It’s one of the highest achievements that you can have in golf.”
McIlroy’s only Claret Jug success came at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake in 2014, while two of Woods’s three wins in the Open came on the Old Course.
