Rory McIlroy returns to action on the PGA Tour on Thursday, and one of his Ryder Cup teammates believes he does so with the confidence knowing he is the best player since Tiger Woods
Rory McIlroy has been told he is the best player than Tiger Woods(Image: Megan Briggs/TGL/TGL via Getty Images)
European Ryder Cup star Bob MacIntyre believes Rory McIlroy proved he is the greatest player since Tiger Woods after winning The Masters to complete the career grand slam.
McIlroy ended a decade-long wait for major championship glory by overcoming a chaotic final round at Augusta National on April 13 to slip on the Green Jacket for the first time. The world No. 2 appeared to have blown his crowning moment, but he came up clutch in the end and defeated Justin Rose in a nerve-wracking playoff.
The Northern Irishman became just the sixth player in the history of the sport to have his name etched on all four major championship trophies, following Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen into the most exclusive of clubs.
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MacIntyre, the world No. 21 and a rookie in Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team in 2023, believes McIlroy cemented his status as the best player of his generation by securing his fifth major and completing the career grand slam.
“I think it was incredible for Rory to win The Masters,” the Scotsman told Golf Channel. “It was the one he hadn’t got and, to be honest, he probably deserved it before now. It was incredible to see him finish that grand slam off.
“As much as he’s a playing partner in the Ryder Cup, I still look up to the guy. Yeah, I’m 28 years old and a multiple winner, but he’s the the best to do it after Tiger. For our generation or the generation just before me, I think he’s the best.”
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MacIntyre will tee it up on Thursday at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, teaming up with fellow Ryder Cup hopeful Thomas Detry in the pairs event at TPC Louisiana. McIlroy is also in the field as he returns to action after skipping last week’s RBC Heritage.
The 35-year-old will be reunited with close friend Shane Lowry, with whom he won the Zurich Classic last year. After spending a week back home in the UK celebrating his Masters triumph with his loved ones, McIlroy – a triple winner on the PGA Tour in 2025 – is “eager” to get back on the golf course and continue an epic start to the season.
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“I think this is the perfect atmosphere to do it in,” McIlroy said of his return. “I think that’s a part of the reason that I wanted to honor the commitment to be here is because it’s a fun event to be out there with Shane.
“I also know that it’s not all on me; he has to do some of the work, too. Maybe a lot of it the next two days. Yeah, it is, it’s a perfect tournament to come back to, just good positive vibes from last year.”
