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.
