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Ahead of the 125th U.S. Open, the legendary golfer Tiger Woods has once again complimented Rory McIlroy for his driving skills. Their endorsement partner TaylorMade Golf shared this wholesome moment on YouTube a day before the upcoming major tournament at Oakmont Country Club.
Apart from being co-founders of the revolutionary Tomorrow Golf League (TGL), Woods and McIlroy maintain a notable respect for each other on and off the course. The relationship between McIlroy and Tiger Woods has travelled through the fairways of being mentor-idol, friends, on-field rivals and finally, business partners.
In TaylorMade's video published on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Woods admitted that Rory McIlroy is "one of the greatest drivers ever".
"I'm here with one of the greatest drivers ever, Rory McIlroy. And we're going to find out what has made him one of the greatest drivers ever to live." (0.02)
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In the clip, the two PGA Tour veterans were explaining how to hit a ball off the tee. Combining Rory McIlroy's creativity with Tiger Woods' experience, the duo shared a lot of techniques and strategies for the fans.
Shortly after calling McIlroy the greatest driver, Woods asked an insightful question about the former's strategy with the driver. McIlroy explained and took Tiger through the entire process of making it perfect. The five-time major champion told Tiger Woods:
"...my feeling now with the driver is I feel like my left arm and my shaft of the club, like form, like a straight line. I feel like I take a bow... keeps the club face more stable... from there, I rotate my body... it's more just round turning... sort of bracing against my left side." (1:06)
Take a look at the full video shared by TaylorMade Golf:
Tiger Woods himself is considered one of the best hitters on the PGA Tour. Even with steel shafted drivers in the 1990s, Woods showcased explosive drives that travelled massive distances.
His compliment for McIlroy's driving ability comes from a place of mutual respect, which has also been reflected at times when McIlroy praised Woods in 2023.
Once Rory McIlroy called Tiger Woods his "hero"
The golfer from Holywood has admitted multiple times how he idolized the 82-time PGA Tour winner over the years.
In Netflix's Full Swing 2023, McIlroy spoke in detail about how Tiger Woods shaped his way into the sport. Not only that, but McIlroy also acknowledged Woods for his impact on the game. The 2025 Masters Champion's said (quoted by AOL):
“I was obsessed with golf and when Tiger came on the scene, I just remember watching Tiger play golf on Sunday nights, because of the time difference. He sort of took it to a new level. He still is my hero and to a lot of people he is golf."
"I've got to know Tiger well over the last decade. He's one of the legends of the game. There'll never be another Tiger... Not just his success on the golf course, but the barriers he was able to break down."
After a rather disappointing performance at the RBC Canadian Open and PGA Championship last month, Rory McIlroy is currently preparing for the 2025 U.S. Open which is scheduled from June 12 to 15.
