Luke Donald Ranks Rory McIlroy Above Tiger Woods in Talent
Tiger Woods is often hailed as the greatest golfer ever, but British golf legend Luke Donald has expressed a different view regarding raw talent. Donald, who has competed on the PGA Tour since 2002, believes Rory McIlroy is the most naturally gifted player he has faced, including Tiger Woods.
Though Woods dominated the sport in the early 2000s with 15 major titles, Donald's firsthand experience competing against him gave the Englishman a close look at Woods' prime. McIlroy, who turned professional in 2007, arrived slightly later but quickly established himself as a force on the tour.
Donald and McIlroy are now business partners, having co-founded Tomorrow's Golf League (TGL), and shared Ryder Cup experiences as teammates.
"I've always said that of the guys I've played with out here on Tour, Rory has the most talent," Donald said in 2011 before the DP World Tour Championship. "He's young, he's got a great future ahead of him, and I see him winning lots of tournaments and lots of majors."
At 47, Donald respects both players but sees McIlroy's potential and skill as unmatched by anyone he has competed against.
Summary
Luke Donald considers Rory McIlroy the most talented golfer he has played with, valuing natural ability over Woods' legendary career achievements.