December 17 — While his European Ryder Cup ‘mate, Lee Westwood, contends he’s satisfied at the top of the world golf rankings despite no major championship titles, Rory McIlroy says that’s poppycock.
Nolo contendere. “6 majors, not even a contest!!” @McIlroyRory responded via Twitter Friday to a follower who asked if the 21-year-old from Northern Ireland would prefer nine Order of Merit honors or the majors. And while McIlroy chose the British Open over the Masters, he was not shy about proclaiming he would like to win “Any of the 4!”
A dig, perhaps, at Westwood, golf’s No. 1, who owns an Order of Merit and Race to Dubai award (Europe’s money list, replaced in 2009 by the Race to Dubai)?
Westwood, who supplanted Tiger Woods in October as the world’s top-ranked golfer, has taken heat for his failure to chalk up a major championship. The 37-year-old Englishman pooh-poohed such talk in a recent interview with The Sun, claiming he would rather hold onto the top spot than have a major title.
Confusing. “People confuse being world No. 1 with winning a major championship,” Westwood said. “But winning a major doesn’t make you the best player in the world. No, being the best player in the world is all about consistency — just look at the world rankings. I have way more points than anyone else. And if you look at the number of tournaments, you’ll see I have played five, six, seven tournaments LESS than most other people — and yet I’m still world No. 1.”
Hmm. Sounds a bit like former Boston Red Sox GM Dan Duquette’s infamous “More days in first place [than the New York Yankees]” utterance after his team failed to make the playoffs.
A little defensive, are we? Maybe a tad, but that’s Westwood’s story and he’s sticking to it.
“I’ve been world No. 1 now and I’ve never won a major so, obviously, I would like to win one,” Westwood admitted. “But I wouldn’t swap world No. 1 for a major, no way.”
Of course, that’s not to say Westwood would not covet hoisting the iron after such a victory. He just figures he’ll grab one sooner or later.
It’ll happen. “Yes, a Major would mean so much to me but I’m a great believer that if you work hard and in the right way, you will get what you deserve,” he said. “I also know I could easily be [sitting] here with three major championships right now but the harsh fact is I’m sitting here with none. That gets on my nerves but it is not as if I’m failing to give myself opportunities in big events.”
Westwood noted he would be “delighted” to pick up The Masters trophy in April. If not then, so be it, but he won’t stress out over it.
No pressure. “I’m not putting pressure on myself,” he said. “I’m 37, I’m pretty fit and feel I have another eight years left — which means there’s 32 majors still to go at.”
McIlroy, by the way, would also trade another Ryder Cup win to be the last bloke standing at any of golf’s major events.
The young gun, who ditched the PGA Tour to play closer to home on the European Tour in 2011, also hinted that he would eventually find his way back to U.S. membership.
“Sometime in the future,” McIlroy tweeted, “not right now.”
McIlroy declined to say what would determine his eventual return.
(Emily Kay is a regular contributor to New England Golf Monthly. Check her out on the Waggle Room, Boston Golf Examiner, and National Golf Examiner websites. You may also follow Kay on Twitter.)
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