Tiger, Mickelson just getting older: McIlroy
BY AFP12 Sep 2014 10:47 PM GMT
AFP12 Sep 2014 10:47 PM GMT
But the 25-year-old reigning PGA Championship and British Open champion noted Wednesday, the eve of the season-ending event, the passing years for Mickelson, 44, and Woods, who turns 39 in December.
‘They are just getting older. Phil is 43 or whatever and Tiger is nearly 40. So they are just getting into sort of the last few holes of their careers and that’s what happens. It obviously just gets harder as you get older. I’ll be able to tell you in 20 years how it feels,’ McIlroy said.
It is the first time since 1992 that the Tour Championship will be played without either Woods or Mickelson in the field, but McIlroy believes they are far from finished, citing Mickelson’s runner-up place at last month’s PGA Championship and an injury-marred season for Woods. ‘When he gets back to full fitness you will see him here,’ McIlroy predicted.
Northern Ireland’s McIlroy is among five playoff points leaders in the field of 29 who can win the $10 million playoff crown by capturing the tournament, the others being Americans Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Chris Kirk and Billy Horschel.
‘Anything other than a win here would be a disappointment. After I finished the PGA, all my focus was on trying to win this. Obviously, if I finish second or third and end up winning the whole thing, then that’s cool as well,’ McIlroy said.
‘They are just getting older. Phil is 43 or whatever and Tiger is nearly 40. So they are just getting into sort of the last few holes of their careers and that’s what happens. It obviously just gets harder as you get older. I’ll be able to tell you in 20 years how it feels,’ McIlroy said.
It is the first time since 1992 that the Tour Championship will be played without either Woods or Mickelson in the field, but McIlroy believes they are far from finished, citing Mickelson’s runner-up place at last month’s PGA Championship and an injury-marred season for Woods. ‘When he gets back to full fitness you will see him here,’ McIlroy predicted.
Northern Ireland’s McIlroy is among five playoff points leaders in the field of 29 who can win the $10 million playoff crown by capturing the tournament, the others being Americans Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Chris Kirk and Billy Horschel.
‘Anything other than a win here would be a disappointment. After I finished the PGA, all my focus was on trying to win this. Obviously, if I finish second or third and end up winning the whole thing, then that’s cool as well,’ McIlroy said.
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