Rory will battle frenemie (or maybe it's just enemy now?) Westwood
The match-up that we were all hoping for is no longer just a possibility — it is indeed happening. Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood both won their quarterfinal matches, beating Sang-Moon Bae and Martin Laird, respectively.
Why are we calling this a “grudge” match? I mean, aren’t Rory and Westy like besties?
Well, first of all, no — they were “friendly” and exchanged “banter” on Twitter when McIlroy and Westwood shared the same management company, ISM, headed by Chubby Chandler. The two were always seen together because of the circumstances, but it didn’t mean they were best buddies. (To my understanding, Rory thought they were friends and perhaps they were — until the young Northern Irishman started to beat the elder Englishman.)
Last fall McIlroy broke up with Chubby after the Grand Slam and announced he was joining Horizon, the same agency that handles Rory’s good mate Graeme McDowell.
Rory, who is usually candid and forthcoming, was rather vague when asked to elaborate on his decision. But he did specify he wanted a new “environment.” That said, McIrloy’s relationship with Westwood appeared to become increasingly tense over the year (despite insistence by all parties involved that they were good mates, but that wasn’t the case according to insiders).
Some of Westwood’s comments with regard to Rory came across as jealous or resentful, like during the U.S. Open.
They maintain there isn’t any animosity or tension between them.
“We definitely don’t spend as much time together as we used to, but it’s totally fine,” said Rory. “He’s obviously a rival of mine on the golf course, and someone that‑‑ he’s one of the best players in the world and a great ballstriker. He’s a guy that you look out for every week in a tournament and he’s the guy you feel like you have to beat to win…There’s no ill feeling between me and him or Chubby or anyone. It’s all been very, very positive.”
Not according to Westwood!
“Rory doesn’t want to spend time with the people that manage me, and I don’t want to spend time with the people that manage Rory,” said Lee in his post-match presser. “But there’s nothing strained about the relationship between the two of us. It’s still the same as it was. We had a chat on the steps out there. Rory said to me before I went out, see you tomorrow morning. And then today again there he said, ‘See, told you.’ That’s the trouble with kids nowadays, they think they’re always right, don’t they?”
Asked how he’d characterize his relationship with Rory, Westwood simply said, “It’s good.”
Translation… never mind.
And these comments from Rory are somewhat telling.
“The relationship that G‑Mac and I have is a little bit different than the one I have with Lee,” said Rory, referring to playing against G-Mac at last year’s Match Play. “And I think it was better for me not to speak to G‑Mac because we could speak all day and it almost would become too friendly. So that was sort of what was in the back of my mind. I was just trying to concentrate on myself. It’s tough to play a friend.
“And I just thought that match with G‑Mac, that’s what I needed to do. Obviously it didn’t work, he beat me. Maybe the next time I play him I’ll chat him a bit more. Of course, I’m sure there will be a few chats on the way around tomorrow. But we’re both here to try and do a job and try to win and that’s the most important thing.”
The two have traded places at the No. 2 and No. 3 spot for quite some time. This week, McIlroy supplanted Westwood. The OWGR throne is also potentially up for grabs. If Westy or Rory go on to win the finals and capture the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, he will supplant Luke Donald as No. 1. (To be clear, the winner of the semifinals grudge match will then have to beat the winner of the other semis match — either Hunter Mahan or Mark Wilson.)
Oh yeah, it’s on!
I already have a few wagers on this much-anticipated duel and my money is on … Rory. (Duh.) I know his ballstriking hasn’t been the best (by his standards), but um, someone obviously worked on his short game in the off-season! — or as a friend of the blog and PGATour.com anchor Amanda Balionis would say, “Straight nasty.”
(AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
‘Win one for Chubby’ would be the rallying cry for Westie.
Can you expand for those of us who aren’t insider enough to know what you’re talking about?
– “McIrloy’s relationship with Westwood appeared to become increasingly tense over the year (despite insistence by all parties involved that they were good mates, but that wasn’t the case according to insiders).”
Really? Can you provide some instances of this being “increasing tension” for me? Thanks. I’m not being doubtful, I just would like some actual facts/quotes. Also who are these insiders and what are they saying? Should I believe this just because “insiders” say so?
– Some of Westwood’s comments with regard to Rory came across as jealous or resentful, like during the U.S. Open.
Got any actual comments I can see? Or links? Would like to read them.
The underlying thing here seems to be: how can two men, vastly different in age, but both from the UK, possibly dislike each other? Does that really need an answer? I’m 35, I probably wouldn’t be all that close to a 22-year-old anymore.
Anyway… funny how the article hyping their match about them is barely focused on golf at all, but rumor/gossip/innuendo/hearsay. *sigh*
Rory was able to complete the job over Westwood. Now for Mahan and the number one ranking in the world of golf.
@salander it’s basically the tour gossip that they don’t much like each other anymore. There’s some jealousy involved etc. But neither of them is so impolitic that they’re going to say it out loud.
I picked Mahan to win in my bracket!
The Mayakoba leaderboard looks exciting. How about Johnny Huh? He’s kinda impressive, totally out of nowhere.
Despite having a great pairing, the Match Play finals is not very good TV, mostly to do with Match Play just not being as interesting:
1. The ability to close out a match. There is nothing comparable in stroke play. See Kyle Stanley. You have to play every hole, and disaster or a miracle can always be possible.
2. Only 4 guys on the course lead to alot of talking and watching guys walking down the fairway. Stroke play you only have that for the last few holes, not all 18.
3. The idea that you can only win/lose 1 hole at a time makes thing much less interesting. No 2 shot swings, it doesnt matter if you make an 9 or a 5 if the other guy makes a 4.
The Westy/Rory match had alot of drama and tension, but the match play aspect just dampens the excitement. The Ryder/Pres Cups are different because you have so many going on at once, and they all matter. I’m just glad this is the only one on the PGA schedule.
7th playoff hole in Mexico!
Also, what they should do, is make the first two rounds on Sat and Sun when people can watch easier/better/freer and then do the later rounds when there’s no golfers on Mon/Tues/Wed. Obviously that schedule wouldn’t fit into their current one, unless they did it in December or osmething, but I bet the ratings would improve drastically.
Is it just me or is Steph running a little behind the times?? Not for the first time is the blog not upto date with events. Disappointing trend…come on Steph..!!
My apologies, but I was packing for the next month and taking a flight down to Palm Beach to bring you coverage of the next four tournaments on-site.
Don’t forget, I wear more than one hat. I do my best.
. . . she posts . . . at 1:40 a.m. There isn’t much to say about the death march final, anyway. That Hunter fellow seems like fine young man. *yawn*
Love Golf? Have you seen the Mayakoba Golf Classic this weekend? Get all your updates here: http://bit.ly/zxQfJa
I agree with Maxfischer about finding a way to have the first two rounds on the weekend. The tour is tinkering with ideas to increase viewership and I think this would be a home run. If they could rearrange the schedule to have the two most exciting days on the weekend and then get the last few days as close to prime time (play it on the west coast to sneak in to prime time on the east coast) as possible it would be great. If people have a chance to invest in the 1st two rounds they may seek to watch after work on Monday-Wednesday. This is the only tournament I can think of that is consistently way more interesting early in the week no matter who advances to the final. Watching only two guys on a Sunday is such a drag.
Steph,
All you need is to give your readers an update what you are up to every now and then. I think people get worried when they don’t hear from you.
Steph – Mark Wilson needs a caddy for the Pro-Am on Wednesday. You should contact him and volunteer, as it could make a great story. It would also be interesting to hear his comments on the course, as he won the Honda a few years ago despite an error by his caddy that led to a two-stroke penalty.
One other thought for a story for this week. I understand Hunter Mahan spoke with a Ping tech rep earlier this week who checked his putter alignment and gave him a different putter which he used in the Match Play Championship. If the same tech rep is at the Honda this week, it would be interesting to talk to him and find out if he is busier than normal this week. You might also get him to check out your putting alignment and give us a story on the result.
What Mahan really should do is talk to PING about him getting rid of that dopey hat.
It looks like a beanie with a pizza box stuck on the front.
Yawn zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Tiger loses = instant article, Rory loses = no article
=)
P.S. If Tiger lost in the final match, would we see an article on here about how he choked?
Speaking of Donkey Kong, interesting documentary here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQZ9wXO8RVs
Think I was a bit harsh with earlier comment Steph!! Great to see you back online again..Please keep up the excellent blogging
Oh, you think those Photoshopped images you see on FPM headlines are real. You poor thing.