Rory McIlroy: The “Tiger Effect” Is Back in Full Swing

Seeing Woods in red and black on Sunday is intimidating again

Tiger Woods,  Francesco Molinari and caddie Pello Iguaran. (Andrew Redington/Getty)
Tiger Woods, Francesco Molinari and caddie Pello Iguaran. (Andrew Redington/Getty)
Getty Images

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By winning his 15th major championship last month at the Masters, Tiger Woods made it pretty clear he’s back in top form following his decade-plus major championship drought.

And, according to Rory McIlroy, that’s intimidating — and Woods knows it.

While speaking with Carson Daly for a podcast, McIlroy said the “Tiger Effect” is back and that seeing Woods dressed in his red and black Sunday outfit is once again a sight no competing golfer wants to see.

McIlroy also noted Woods used it to his advantage during the Masters when he (probably) deliberately lurked on the 12th green while Francesco Molinari and Tony Finau had to hit shots after being forced to take penalty strokes..

“Just sorta having that little glimpse of red in your eye,” McIlroy said. “A hundred percent. I mean, he knows that he intimidates people and it’s like, ‘I’m going to make you feel my presence.’”

Meanwhile, PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh talked about another version of the “Tiger Effect” while discussing the upcoming PGA Championship — which tees off at Bethpage Black on May 16 — being played so shortly after the Masters.

“Obviously Tiger has impact, sort of the moon landing. It’s not golf; it’s where were you when, kind of stuff,” Waugh said. “The impact immediately afterward was extraordinary in terms of ticket sales. We absolutely now know that the fan base will be cranked up and we hope that it will have the same effect that he had his first go-around on participation.”

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