Tiger Woods is long regarded as one of the greatest golfers in history, yet British golf legend Luke Donald believes Rory McIlroy surpasses him when it comes to natural talent. Donald, who has competed with both players on the PGA Tour, shared his thoughts on McIlroy’s remarkable ability compared to Woods.
Luke Donald, now 47, joined the PGA Tour in 2002 and often found himself facing Tiger Woods at his peak. The American dominated the golf scene in the early 2000s, collecting major titles and setting a standard for excellence. McIlroy, ten years younger, entered the professional ranks in 2007 and quickly made a strong impact on the sport.
Since turning professional, McIlroy has gone from a promising young player to one of golf’s most consistent stars. In recent years, he’s even joined Woods in a business partnership, co-founding Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), a project aiming to modernize the sport.
"I've always said that of the guys I've played with out here on Tour, Rory has the most talent. He's young, he's got a great future ahead of him, and I see him winning lots of tournaments and lots of majors."
While Woods often tops lists of golf’s all-time greats, Donald’s comments underscore that the conversation about raw talent remains open. His firsthand experience competing against both players gives added weight to his perspective.
Author’s summary: Luke Donald highlights Rory McIlroy’s extraordinary natural talent, suggesting he might surpass even Tiger Woods in pure ability, keeping the debate over golf’s greatest very much alive.