• PGA Tour

Rory hitting it better than Tiger ever did - Poulter

ESPN staff
June 24, 2011
Rory McIlroy is the hottest prospect in golf after snatching his maiden major at the US Open © Getty Images
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Ian Poulter is the latest to lavish praise on runaway US Open winner Rory McIlroy, claiming the Ulsterman is hitting the ball cleaner than Tiger Woods ever has.

While Woods languishes at No. 17 in the world rankings, McIlroy has become the hottest prospect in the sport following his eight-stroke triumph at Congressional.

Comparisons with Woods are inevitable - the American stormed away from the field at the 2000 US Open, triumphing by a record 15 shots. But McIlroy rewrote the history books himself, recording the lowest-ever score at a US Open as he proved he has what it takes to follow in the footsteps of Woods, a 14-time major winner.

And Poulter reckons McIlroy's success is all the more impressive considering his meltdown at the Masters in April, when he blew a four-shot final-day lead.

"After the Masters he was very disappointed, but he will have taken a lot from that, and for him to come back the way he did, to go out and lap the field at the US Open, was very impressive," Poulter told Sky Sports News.

"I haven't seen anybody that strikes a ball as well as McIlroy for a good number of years, and that's with everyone included. He's very impressive, he's got the whole package, and there's going to be more than one major in his trophy cabinet when he hangs his boots up."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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