Rory McIlroy Thinks Tiger Woods’ Large Galleries Cost Him Two Shots A Round

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Rory McIlroy is one of golf’s biggest names. But his popularity still pales in comparison to Tiger Woods’ incredible following. It’s yet another example why say ‘there’s always someone richer, stronger and more popular than you.’

The Telegraph’s James Corrigan reports that McIlroy’s experience last Thursday and Friday playing with Woods–and his humongous, raucous  galleries–was quite the jolting experience. Its a surprisingly honest comment coming from a player who also attracts good crowds–yet certainly not the rock star throng chasing Tiger.

“I swear, playing in front of all that, he gives up half a shot a day on the field. Like, it’s two shots he has to give to the field because of all that goes on around (him),” McIlroy said. “So whether that calms down the more he plays and it doesn’t become such a novelty that he’s back out playing again because it’s – it’s tiring.

“I need a couple Advil just to – I’ve got a headache after all that.”

“Just the whole thing. Guys, you’ve got a six-foot putt, ‘It doesn’t break as much as you think,’ just stuff like this that they don’t have to say,” McIlroy said. “Just stuff. You know, whoever that’s teeing off at 8:30 in the morning doesn’t get that and can just go about his business and just do his thing. That’s tough. He has to deal with that every single time he goes out to play.”

Tiger admitted it does affect him.

“It’s cost me a lot of shots over the years,” confirmed Woods. “It’s cost me a few tournaments here and there. It’s been a lot because all it takes is one shot on a Thursday that you lose a tournament by a shot on Sunday. What people don’t realize, it’s not just something that happens on Sunday afternoon, this is cumulative and it’s par for the course. I’ve dealt with it for a very long time.”