How Rory McIlroy felt when he met Tiger Woods for the first time – all golf fans can resonate

Despite having five majors to his name, Rory McIlroy still pales in comparison to the GOAT that is Tiger Woods.

When it comes to sporting icons, not many are more iconic than the 15-time major champion.

First shooting to prominence in the 1990s, Woods went on to single-handedly transform the game of golf into the worldwide phenomenon it is today.

Given what he has done for the sport, the five-time Augusta winner is held as almost a god-like figure amongst fellow players and fans – a sentiment that was felt by McIlroy during the pair’s first-ever meeting.

Rory McIlroy on meeting Tiger Woods for first time

McIlroy’s worldwide fame has meant he has had the chance to meet countless celebrities, politicians and fellow sports stars over the years.

There seems to be only one person, however, who gets McIlroy nervous – that being golfing icon Woods.

When speaking on his first interaction with Woods, the Northern Irishman revealed he was starstruck when meeting him for the first time at 15 years old (via CBS Sports).

“I think the first time I met Tiger, I was a little star-struck,” McIlroy said in 2012.

“I watched him on TV winning majors by 15 and 12 and doing things that no one else could.”

“It’s funny, I was talking about this last night,” he said. “I was more nervous meeting Tiger than I was meeting Barack Obama.”

McIlroy and Woods have become good friends

21 years on from that iconic meeting, McIlroy and Woods have been able to strike a close bond on and off the golf course.

Whether it be practising their 9 irons or even launching a business together, it seems like Woods has gone from idol to friend in the eyes of the Northern Irishman.

When speaking on his relationship with the golfing GOAT, McIlroy told Sportsnet in 2025:

“The way I always describe my relationship with Tiger is that people would say, ‘never meet your heroes’ and I met my hero and he exceeded my expectations. So he has been nothing but wonderful to me, my family, the whole way through my career.”

McIlroy then added: “And it’s really cool to not just call him a competitor but also a business partner, a colleague, a friend. It’s really cool. I am super fortunate that I have the relationship with him that I do.”

Tiger Woods’ nickname for Rory McIlroy showed just how much he was in his head

Rory McIlroy was once given a cheeky nickname by Tiger Woods during the height of their rivalry, summing up how dominant the American was at the time. After joining the PGA Tour in 2010, McIlroy quickly made his mark, securing six Tour victories and two major titles by the end of 2012.

It was during this period that Woods, the former world No. 1, gave the Northern Irishman a funny moniker. While gearing up for the TOUR Championship in 2012, McIlroy told journalists: “He’s (Tiger’s) got a new nickname for me, actually. He calls me The Intimidator”.

McIlroy went on to explain that his difficulty in competing against Woods was due to the American’s formidable presence, saying: “No. How can I intimidate Tiger Woods? I mean, the guy’s got 75 or whatever PGA Tour wins, 14 majors. He’s been the biggest thing ever in our sport.

“How could some little 23-year-old from Northern Ireland with a few wins come up and intimidate him. It’s just not possible. I don’t know where he got that from, but it’s not true.”

It seems that Woods might have been using a bit of reverse psychology on McIlroy back then, with his comments years later revealing his true thoughts on players feeling intimidated, reports the Mirror US. A 2018 video that went viral shows Woods jokingly chiding opponents who couldn’t face him head-on, indicating that it was their “****ing issue” if they felt daunted by his prowess and reputation.

In the footage, you can hear Woods say: “I can’t control you. The only thing I can control is me. If you get intimidated, that’s your own ****king issue.”

With an astounding tally of 82 PGA Tour wins as of 2025, including 15 major championships and an incredible total of 683 weeks at the top of the world rankings, it’s hardly shocking to find out that golfers past and present may feel slightly uneasy stepping onto the same course as Woods.

The nickname Woods allegedly gave McIlroy so long ago also hints at the 49-year-old’s conviction that the Northern Irishman shares the same determination for victory that he has sustained throughout his career – a perseverance clearly mirrored in the 36-year-old’s golfing triumphs.

Moving on to May 2025, McIlroy has marked a remarkable year on the PGA Tour. He’s raised his winning tally to 29, with standout performances earning him the trophy at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Players Championship, culminating in a stellar win at last month’s Masters at Augusta.

This marks the first time McIlroy has triumphed at the tournament, securing the coveted Green Jacket to add to his collection of PGA Championships, US Open and Open Championship titles – completing the career Grand Slam. In doing so, he joins an elite club of just six men, including Woods, who have won all four majors, with Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Jack Nicklaus also members.

McIlroy’s victories stand in stark contrast to Woods’ recent career trajectory. The California-born star hasn’t competed on the Tour or in a major since last year’s Open Championship at Royal Troon. Currently 1,404th in the Official World Golf Rankings, Woods underwent back surgery in September, which kept him off the course for months.

The golfing icon was poised to make a comeback at the Genesis Invitational Open in February, but withdrew from the tournament following the death of his mother, Kultida. Further misfortune struck when Woods tore his Achilles tendon, leading to surgery in March, and he has been out of action ever since.

There is still water – calm, serene, no waves, just peace all around. Suddenly, you throw a rock in the middle of it all, ripples start forming. It sets of a chain of events that could result in something different and amazing. Well the Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy-led enterprise did just that. Earlier,  the organization that runs TGL, TMRW Sports’ co-founder and CEO Mike McCarley revealed some key information regarding TGL’s future plans. “Nothing has been finalized, but progress has been made on both fronts,” McCarley stated. The both fronts McCarley is referring to is the involvement of LPGA pros and the addition of an expansion team.

And now there is something in the works. The official X account of TGL posted a tweet right after the 2025 PGA Championship. The tweet read simply: “This would be another good time to turn on @TGL notifications,” is definitely a wrench in the works, with speculation rising every minute as to what it could mean.This could indicate anything, as fans are filling social media with ideas and thoughts regarding the tweet’s end-product. The likely outcome could be the introduction of LPGA pros to the game, something that has been discussed many times over during the course of the inaugural season at the SoFi Center in Florida.

During a match between Atlanta Drive GC and Boston Common GC, the former’s owner Arthur Blank was asked about the next steps for the league. His response was very illuminating. “Potentially there will be gals involved, which would be great for the game,” the Home Depot founder said. The momentum for LPGA golfers to make an appearance on the TGL stage is higher than ever. The likes of Nelly Korda and Megan Khang had expressed interest in the technology-drive league through their socials. One LPGA pro, Rose Zhang is a minority owner of the Bay Golf Club.

Current World No.2 in Women’s golf Atthaya ‘Jeeno’ Thitikul had also openly expressed interest in taking part in the TGL. “I think should be fun (indoor golf). Should be fun in the off-season. I have experienced one time in Korea. It’s just like a simulator golf. But it’s not as good as what they play in that one. That one is just like hit in the simulator and chip it, putt it.” The Thai golfer had explained.

And while no confirmation has come yet, TGL fans are eager to know what the pot of gold at the end of the TGL rainbow is.

One eager fan, replied to the tweet inquisitively, asking the admin, “Are we back?“. Another fan flat out asked the million dollar question, tweeting, “What’s going on??” in a bid to understand what this abrupt tweet from the TGL official handle could be.

One of the biggest misses from season 1 of the simulator league was the absence of top names from the PGA Tour. World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and three-time major winner Jordan Spieth were some of the big names missing from the league. However, both have expressed a liking for the league. “I think it’s interesting, I think it’s good energy for the sport. I think maybe some new people are getting interested in golf. But overall I haven’t paid too much attention to it, but last night was good,” Scheffler had stated after catching some of the TGL action during the season.

This interest has prompted one fan to ask for a team based out of Texas, where both Scheffler and Spieth are from. “We want a Scottie and Jordan Texas team next season.” Another curious fan asked if ladies are going to take part, tweeting, “The ladies are about to start?” 

The first season of TGL was a huge success which is why there are more and more ideas floating in regarding improvement and expansion. The first edition saw Atlanta Drive beat out the New York Golf Club in a closely fought best of three series. One Atlanta Drive fan quipped, “Gonna keep my notifications off because no matter what my ATL Drive are going back-to-back.”

What do you think the big update from TGL is going to be about? Is it the inclusion of women, a new team from Texas or someplace else, or something different entirely?

The brains behind Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s tech-powered golf league have revealed that there are potential bidders lining up to create an expansion franchise. Meanwhile, Serena Williams’ husband is pushing for the introduction of a women’s division in the league.

TGL, which was conceived by Woods, McIlroy, and their business partner Mike McCarley, surpassed expectations in its debut season. It attracted strong viewership on ESPN from its launch in January through to the finals last month.

Based in Palm Beach, the six-team league features many top PGA Tour stars. However, notable players like Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth did not participate in the inaugural season, indicating potential for expansion in terms of new teams and venues in the future.

At the CAA World Congress of Sports this week, McCarley and other TGL executives discussed the possibility of introducing an expansion team. According to the Sports Business Journal, McCarley expressed his pleasant surprise at the number of potential bidders who have shown interest.

He further stated that the pool of potential investors has been narrowed down to those based in the United States. The expansion process will “start with one [new team] and then it’ll grow from there,” he added.

TGL’s lineup of team owners includes a wealth of billionaires such as Atlanta Falcons head honcho Arthur Blank and Stephen Cohen, the big cheese at the New York Mets. A major player in TGL is Dynasty Equity, and their head honcho Don Cornwell reckons that boosting the betting markets for TGL could “turbocharge” its growth by 2026.

Alexis Ohanian, who founded Los Angeles Golf Club, isn’t just any team owner; he’s got his eye on teeing up the game for the ladies. The Reddit trailblazer, hitched to tennis legend Williams and co-owner of NWSL outfit Angel City FC, is champing at the bit to get moving on an LPGA deal.

“I’ve been bugging these guys about the LPGA deal for a minute,” shared Ohanian. “They have been very interested. It’s just these things take time, and I’m not allowed to make any news.”

TGL big wig McCarley echoed this sentiment: “There’s no secret we’re working on that. Alexis has been a great thought leader for us on that, and I think most of our team owners are right behind them in that area, too.”

In a tale close to his heart, Ohanian highlighted the clout of building brands that catch fans’ eyes and hearts. He lapped back to Reddit’s early days when spotting someone donning the site’s logo inked on their skin set off light bulbs.

“That’s when I knew we were probably onto something,” reflected Ohanian. “We knew the individual athletes had huge followings. We believed in the format, all the other things these folks are saying, but could we actually build a brand that one day someone might want a tattoo on their bodies?”.

Tiger Woods has reacted after Rory McIlroy joined him an exclusive club after finally winning the Masters.

Tiger Woods issued a statement after Rory McIlroy finally won the Masters and joined him in an elite club of golfers.

The coveted green jacket had always evaded the Northern Irishman, who experienced an almighty collapse at Augusta back in 2011 and thought that it might never happen for him.

But despite blowing a four-shot lead and missing a putt in the final round, a locked-in McIlroy got over the line on Sunday, sinking to his knees with pure emotion after a birdie on the first bonus 18th hole during the sudden death play-off with Justin Rose.

As well as earning a record £3.2 million in prize money and being handed the Masters trophy and green jacket, McIlroy now receives automatic qualification for the Masters each year after joining Jack Nicklaus, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Woods as the sixth member of the Grand Slam club.

Woods is a five-time winner of the Masters, having triumphed in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2019.

Only Nicklaus has won the Masters more than Woods and the 49-year-old was delighted to see McIlroy’s incredible achievement.

Woods was not present at the Masters as he is recovering from surgery on his achilles tendon, but he posted a special message to McIlroy on his X account.

“Welcome to the club @McIlroyRory,” he wrote.

“Completing the grand slam at Augusta is something special. Your determination during this round, and this entire journey has shown through, and now you’re a part of history. Proud of you!”

How much will Rory McIlroy earn for winning the 2025 Masters?

The prize money for the 2025 Masters was the highest in history, with a pot of $21 million decided.

McIlroy is said to have collected $4.2m, a $600,000 increase on the $3.6 million Scottie Scheffler received for his first Masters win in 2024.

But while McIlroy has earned a record sum, it’s expected that the final figure will be a lot lower because of a hefty tax bill which could total 42.39 per cent and around $1.2 million.

“Any prize money earned will be subject to US federal tax, the top rate of which is still 37 per cent,” Paul Barham, head of international private client tax at Forvis Mazars, told the Daily Express.

“Golfers will also have to pay state tax in Georgia at 5.39 per cent.

“The US tax will be paid by all golfers playing at Augusta regardless of where they are tax resident and if they are a tax resident in the US, they shouldn’t pay tax on this prize money in any other country.”

Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links GC and Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf have been eliminated from the TGL after failing to reach the play-offs.

Boston needed to beat New York on Monday night to secure a play-off spot but lost 10-6, with Cameron Young, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele scoring five points from the last four holes for the victors.

Schauffele ‘threw the hammer’ – which increases the point total of the hole from one points to two – at the 12th and made a birdie to beat Adam Scott.

Cameron Young then saw off McIlroy, which meant Boston required two more points in the final hole to force overtime.

Boston ‘threw the hammer’ but Schauffele chipped in from seven feet to seal a four-the win.

The result also ended Jupiter Links GC’s hopes of reaching the play-offs, as New York sealed their place alongside Los Angeles Golf Club, The Bay Golf Club and Atlanta Drive GC.

Los Angeles Golf Club, who top the SoFi Cup standings, will face fourth-placed New York in the semi-finals with the Bay Golf Club facing Atlanta Drive GC in matches held across 17-18 March.

Golf fans are still getting used to TGL and all its quirks.

The indoor simulator league, created by Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods with the help of golf executive Mike McCarley, has split opinion since its launch in January.

Besides the overarching debate around professional golf being played into a giant screen, one point of contention has been the project’s flagship rule: the Hammer.

Like most elements of TGL, the Hammer is designed to create maximum entertainment value – but on the first five nights, it did the complete opposite.

So officials have changed the rule mid-season.

Here’s how it previously worked: both teams shared one Hammer in the form of an orange cloth.

The team in possession of the Hammer could throw it at any point on any given hole.

If accepted by the other team, that hole was then worth two points instead of one.

If rejected, the team making that decision would automatically forfeit the hole and lose one point.

In both instances, the Hammer would then change hands, starting from the next hole.

But curiously, the Hammer went unused in two of the opening five weeks, and TGL struggled with a run of one-sided affairs.

Teams had already found a loophole which became known as ‘Hammer hoarding’.

It quickly became apparent that if the team with the Hammer had a comfortable lead, there was no incentive to use it.

The reward of double points on a favourable hole was not worth losing possession of the Hammer – which the opposing team could then use to catch up.

It also presented the risk of conceding double points after throwing the Hammer – and the jeopardy never really made sense for a team with a comfortable lead.

Officials announced a new version of the Hammer rule last week.

Now, each team will get three Hammers, which can be used at any point in the match.

The idea is that both sides will have access to the Hammer when they need it most – and they can develop their own strategies and tactics, rather than relying on other teams’ decisions.

Andrew Macaulay, TGL Chief Technical Officer, said: “With the change of possession if the leading team threw it, they’d make the hole worth two points, but then the trailing team had possession of the Hammer.

“It’s why in two out of our five matches, not a single Hammer was thrown in it.”

Macaulay added: “It’s like timeouts. Each team has three. There’s strategy to when you use them. When you used all three, you don’t have any left, you’re done.

“The Hammer is a hot topic, and it’s been an awesome thing. Fans want to see teams throw the Hammer, and we think this change will help increase fan excitement.”

This decision immediately paid off on Monday night as TGL hosted a historic triple-header with the following results…

• The Bay Golf Club 5-4 Boston Common Golf
• Atlanta Drive GC 6-5 Los Angeles Golf Club (after overtime)
• Atlanta Drive GC 5-6 The Bay Golf Club

Speaking afterwards, Patrick Cantlay of Atlanta Drive GC said: “I think we had two matches that were really close, which is probably exactly what they wanted with the Hammer change. The new Hammer rules really do change it.

“There’s a lot more decisions to be made out there. I think we made a lot of good ones today, hit some good shots. We had a good day, just came up a little short in that second match.”

What is TGL?

Simply put, TGL is an indoor simulator golf league featuring the game’s top players.

It takes place at a super high-tech arena called the SoFi Centre in Florida with a live crowd of around 1,500 people.

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods were the ones who came up with it, with the help of a guy called Mike McCarley, as part of their TMWR Sports venture.

It’s got a bunch of big-name investors, like Serena Williams, Lewis Hamilton, and Fenway Sports Group – who own Liverpool. ESPN and Sky Sports signed up to broadcast it.

How do they compete?

There’s six teams of four, all franchises based on US cities, and all featuring top PGA Tour players. No LIV Golfers.

There is one head-to-head match each week lasting just two hours for a primetime TV slot in the States.

There is also a 40-second shot clock and timeouts and referees to enforce the rules. All of the players are mic’d up to ensure maximum entertainment value.

How does it work?

For shots longer than 50 yards, players hit into this enormous screen, which is 53 foot tall and 64 foot wide.

That’s about 24 times the size of your normal golf simulator. They play off real grass, the rough and the fairways are reflected on the surface, and it even moves to reflect the slope.

The green complex has 600 motorised sensors underneath it and 360 degree rotation to simulate the exact real life scenario facing the players.

The bunkers have the same sand as Augusta National, and they’ve even thought about the direction of the grain around the greens.

Format

Each team picks three players, they play 15 holes. The first nine holes are ‘Trebles’ – three-on-three matchplay, with each player taking turns to hit the shots.

The final six holes are ‘Singles’ – one-on-one matchplay with each player playing 2 holes.

If it’s all square after 15, they go to overtime and play closest to the pin.

Teams get two points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime win, one point for an overtime loss, and zero points for a regulation loss.

There will be Play-Offs in March with semi-finals and a final to determine the league’s overall winner – with a $21million purse to be divided among players.

Teams

Atlanta Drive GC
• Patrick Cantlay
• Lucas Glover
• Billy Horschel
• Justin Thomas

Boston Common Golf
• Keegan Bradley
• Hideki Matsuyama
• Rory McIlroy
• Adam Scott

The Bay Golf Club
• Ludvig Aberg
• Wyndham Clark
• Shane Lowry
• Min Woo Lee

Jupiter Links Golf Club
• Max Homa
• Tom Kim
• Kevin Kisner
• Tiger Woods

Los Angeles Golf Club
• Tommy Fleetwood
• Collin Morikawa
• Justin Rose
• Sahith Theegala

New York Golf Club
• Matt Fitzpatrick
• Rickie Fowler
• Xander Schauffele
• Cameron Young

Turns out that having Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy on your broadcast does good things for TV ratings. Who knew?

TGL’s fourth week featured a series of firsts for the new tech-infused indoor golf league: both Woods and McIlroy head-to-head in a competitive match. Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club defeated McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf Club in overtime, a match that was in doubt right on through and over its allotted two-hour run time.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s long-anticipated indoor golf league, TGL, made its electrifying debut Tuesday night with a fast-paced 15-hole match that lived up to the hype.

The opening round saw Rickie Fowler, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Xander Schauffele from the New York Golf Club face off against Shane Lowry, Wyndham Clark, and Ludvig Aberg from The Bay Golf Club.

It took just under two hours to complete, exactly as envisioned, with The Bay emerging victorious, 9-2.

Aberg made history by recording the first birdie in TGL history, and Lowry, never one to shy away from a bit of banter, couldn’t resist teasing Clark. “The last time I had that much fun was probably last September,” he quipped, referring to the European Ryder Cup win over the U.S. team, which included Clark.

Trash talk was a running theme throughout the match. As Lowry said, “Look, I had an amazing two hours.” And with the speed of the event, it was clear: TGL was built to be fast, fun, and full of energy.

The first shot was struck at 9:15 p.m., and just four minutes later, Aberg sank a 9-footer for the opening point. The action was swift, the stakes high, and the atmosphere electric.

“This was just a dream conjured up,” Woods reflected on the ESPN broadcast. “Rory and I talked about it, and it’s hard to believe we’ve taken golf to another stratosphere.”

Woods and McIlroy, along with DJ Khaled, who was seen interacting with players and even demonstrating his swing, were present to witness the debut.

The venue, a 250,000-square-foot facility at Palm Beach State College, featured high-tech innovations, including sand from Augusta National in the bunkers and a data-driven system tracking every shot.

“It’s like a glorified man cave,” said Fowler, capturing the essence of the experience. With microphones on the players, fans surrounding the course, and music blaring throughout, it was a spectacle in every sense.

The short-game complex was especially intriguing, with its 41-yard-wide turntable green and over 600 devices beneath it to alter the contours.

Players found it tricky to make putts on this dynamic surface, adding to the challenge and excitement.

There was no shortage of laughs. Lowry delivered a series of one-liners, like calling himself “the Scottie Scheffler of indoor golf” and jokingly describing his shot as “a bit chunky.”

Schauffele, however, wasn’t immune to the occasional booing, which followed a misplayed chip shot. “I probably would have booed me too,” he remarked.

The match ended with a 729-yard par-5 that was more reachable than it sounds, followed by handshakes and cheers all around. Lowry gave a hearty wave to the crowd, marking a successful debut.

“I had so much fun,” said Aberg, capturing the sentiment of everyone involved. Even Woods couldn’t hide his excitement when fans cheered as Clark prepared to line up a putt. “You don’t normally hear that at events,” Woods said. “You’re going to hear that here.”

Looking ahead, Woods will take the stage for his Jupiter Links club on January 14, with McIlroy’s debut potentially coming on January 27 when Boston Common faces Jupiter Links. The regular season will run until March 4, with 24 players across six teams. The top four teams will advance to the playoffs, culminating in a best-of-three championship series just before the Masters.

While TGL may not be traditional golf, Woods emphasized, “It is golf, and that’s the main thing.” As Fowler pointed out, the real test will be how it’s received by television audiences. “If it does well there, the sky’s the limit,” he said. “This is just the start.”