Rory McIlroy reveals how he “blanked” Tiger Woods

Rory McIlroy has admitted that he blanked Tiger Woods in the aftermath of his US Open collapse last month.

But hold on: it’s not quite as it sounds.

Speaking to the media ahead of this week’s Open Championship at Royal Troon, McIlroy was asked about a text Woods sent him shortly after the Irishman bogeyed two of his final three holes at Pinehurst to lose by a shot and extend his major drought.

However, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of messages he received in the wake of that painful loss, McIlroy changed his phone number and knew nothing of Tiger’s supportive text until the pair saw each other at Ayrshire earlier today.

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“Full disclosure, I changed my number two days after the US Open, so I didn’t get it until he told me about it today,” laughed McIlroy. “I was like, ‘Oh, thanks very much.’ So I blanked Tiger Woods, which is probably not a good thing.”

Earlier this year, it was reported that the pair’s tight bond had suffered some cracks as a result of the ongoing rancour in the men’s professional game, Woods very much on the side of the PGA Tour and McIlroy calling for compromise with the Saudi-funded backers of the LIV Golf League.

There was no suggestion of any animosity between the pair today, though, as McIlroy spoke affectionately about Woods’ influence on him.

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“Tiger has been nothing but incredible to me over the course of my career in the good moments and the bad,” he revealed. “He sent me an incredible message after St Andrews in 2022.

“I met Tiger when I was 15 years old, and I’ve built up a great relationship with him, his whole family. He really enjoys spending time with my mum and dad as well.

“It means a lot. It means a lot that he reached out. Actually, it means a lot that he waited a few days to reach out, which if he hadn’t have waited that long, I probably would have got it.

“But I caught up with him earlier. It’s always nice when your hero and the guy that you had on your bedroom wall is reaching out and offering words of encouragement.”

Michael McEwan is bunkered's Head of Content and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Head of Content