backinit One of the worst playoff I can remember seeing

Over before it started, like Watson vs. Cink in The Open.
blech.

    Is Rory McIlroy currently the best golfer this century? He has 28 PGA Tour wins with 4 Majors. Tiger and Phil are still playing, but their best is behind them.

    The only player who may have an argument is Brooks Koepka. He has more Majors than Rory (5-4) but only has 9 PGA Tour wins.

      Sneakylong

      Unequivocally he is the best current golfer ....at least the most talented. Sometimes it looks as though his mental toughness ( or lack thereof) is holding him back. Golf is hard however.

      As for best golfer of this century ? Tiger was pretty good in the early 2000's so as much as I could not and cannot stand Tiger, he is still the best we've seen this Century

          Weirfan I haven't seen his stats, but I feel like every time I see Rory screw up it's with a wedge in his hand and not so much the putter. I feel like he still needs to learn whatever Dustin Johnson did to improve that part of his game. But as you say golf is hard.

            Sneakylong Is Rory McIlroy currently the best golfer this century?

            I wouldn't go that far - that Woods fellow was pretty good in the first few years of the 2000s (11 majors between 2000 and 2007) - but you can make a strong case for McIlroy as the best male golfer of the last 20 years (he turned pro in 2007).

            Yes, there are holes in his game - as others have already said, his putter runs hot and cold, his wedge approach shots can be a weakness, and he's not as strong mentally as some of his peers - but he has the physical ability to dominate a golf course and is one of the best ball strikers on any tour. While he hasn't won as often as those early years of his professional career might have suggested, McIlroy has consistently been one of the best players in the world - if I'm interpreting the World Rankings data correctly, the last time that he was ranked outside of the top 20 was in 2009...

              Rory’s spin seems to be erratic. He always has that confused look on his face when it lands 20 feet in front of the cup like he expects to to bounce forward 20 feet and stop but ends up backing up 20 feet instead.

              Sneakylong Is Rory McIlroy currently the best golfer this century?

              No

              He's playing limited field events mainly.
              You can't be the best if you don't prove you can beat the worst.

                  Par4QC No

                  He's playing limited field events mainly.
                  You can't be the best if you don't prove you can beat the worst.

                  Right, and he’s practically playing against the Korn Ferry Tour now. Anybody giving him a run for his money is on LIV. If he were that great he’d be blowing the field away.

                    sdandrea1 Too debatable. Define "best".

                    Let’s just take his 28 PGA Tour wins and 4 Majors. And basically never leave the top 10 in world rankings for 15 years.

                      Par4QC No

                      He's playing limited field events mainly.
                      You can't be the best if you don't prove you can beat the worst.

                      Ok….. LIV started in the middle of 2022. Rory has 5 wins from 2022 till now. So worst case scenario he has 23 PGA Tour wins instead of 28 and still has 4 Majors. And not all the top players who went to LIV went as soon as it was announced.

                      Who’s done better?

                        https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/rory-mcilroys-impressive-longevity-on-full-display-amid-return-to-valhalla-seeking-first-major-since-2014/

                        There’s also this from last year.

                        “But what if you basically never leave the top 10 in world rankings for 15 straight years?

                        McIlroy, who first entered the top 10 at the end of 2009, has rarely ventured south of that mark since (and never south of No. 20). In that sense, Rory stands nearly peerless in the game; the likes of Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Viktor Hovland -- choosing three tremendously talented peers -- have failed to accomplish this feet.”

                        Sneakylong Is Rory McIlroy currently the best golfer this century? He has 28 PGA Tour wins with 4 Majors. Tiger and Phil are still playing, but their best is behind them.

                        I read this as 'best' not meaning winningest, even tough you threw in the 28 & 4 numbers.

                        As such, it is a statement that could easily be debated.

                        But, he has picked a very good year to cut back his schedule and play tracks/tourneys he has best chances in/on. Finally getting smart. The other really good Pros are coming unglued in life and their games. He has a great chance to win a lot of tourneys this season. Consistency, with time off, is going to reap huge bounties.

                            Par4QC read this as 'best' not meaning winningest

                            Yeah, best would be more subjective. Best as in most accomplished / winningest is more definitive. I heard Gary Williams Golf Channel / Sirius XM PGA Radio mention this (this) morning. I only heard the end of his remarks.

                            But when you look at his numbers there’s a very good argument that can be made that he is the ‘best’ certainly as @MartinD said since 2007.

                              Rory is one of the greats. So far this century Tiger and Phil are both better and Brooks is about as good. Rory can, and has dominated majors before and I think he has more ahead. Used to like him but have soured on his virtue signaling self-righteousness in recent years.

                                johnnydoom Used to like him but have soured on his virtue signaling self-righteousness in recent years.

                                Agree. He should get points taken away from Sneakylong's criteria. 😉

                                  propman

                                  This quote below tells the story. He’s learning how to win without his A game. Basically has more shots in his arsenal.

                                  “To use the analogy of a baseball pitcher, he’s finding ways to get outs without relying purely on his fast ball. He’s found other ways to produce success. He has more tools available to him now that perhaps he’s ever had in his career. He is a more complete player.”

                                      Par4QC Has everyone forgotten what DJ has done?

                                      24 wins on the PGA Tour with two Majors. Not too shabby. Not counting what he’s done on the exhibition tour. lol Majors seem to get more weight.

                                      That’s why Brooks has a good argument for being in contention with Rory with five Majors, but only has 9 wins on the PGA Tour.