Tiger did it? Sure, but Rory McIlroy's streak shouldn't be any less thrilling
Are you not entertained? How is that possible? (Getty Images)Rory McIlroy has won the last three tournaments he's played in, including two majors. It might not be as lauded as what Tiger Woods did in 2000 or Woods' incredible 2006-2007 seasons, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been just as remarkable an achievement.
Woods won prolifically and historically and in all the ways even superlative words will not do. But he only did what McIlroy has done -- a streak of three or more wins that included two majors and one World Golf Championship -- one time. A look at Woods' three-win (or more) streaks in his career: 1999-2000: Two WGCs, Tour Championship, three other tournaments 2000: One major, one WGC, one other tournament 2001: One major, Players, one other tournament 2006-2007: Two majors, two WGCs, three other tournaments 2007-2008: One WGC, Tour Championship, three other tournaments That 2006-2007 run was insane. Woods reeled off the British Open, Buick Open, PGA Championship, (what is now) the Bridgestone Invitational, Deutsche Bank Championship, American Express Championship, and Buick Invitational consecutively. Win, win, win, win, win, win, win in seven consecutive outings. So McIlroy might not be looking at that stretch (or he might?) but you can absolutely put what he has done at this year's British Open, Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championship up against the rest of Tiger's streaks. It's also just the 31st time in the modern era (since the Masters started) a golfer has won three or more tournaments in a row and, get this, just the 10th since Tom Watson did it in 1980. He's also just the fourth person not named Tiger ( Nick Price, Vijay Singh, and David Duval) since 1980 to win three in a row but none of those guys' streaks included two majors.'But he's not Tiger' is the phrase I hear most often, whether on social media or sports talk radio. Or even talking to my friends and other folks who follow golf. He's not thrilling like the Big Cat was. Well he actually kind of is Old Tiger right now if you believe in things like long winning streaks and multiple majors in the same season. As for the thrilling part, well, too many people are blinded by the myth that was Tiger Woods from 1997 to 2008. Yes he was a historic figure and yes, he blew away fields at tournaments in which you should not blow away fields. But let's not pretend like he was infallible.
And let's also not pretend like throwing a pair of eagles at the British Open leaderboard in the final few holes of a crazy third round and smoking 3-woods 280 yards (I don't care if it was accidental!) to pull within one of a loaded PGA Championship board aren't thrilling things.
Rory McIlroy is thrilling and what he has done the last three tournaments is as good as golf gets.
The Ulsterman is flexing his Nike-sized muscles when it matters most. Speaking of those guns, they might have to re-size him next April before Augusta starts if he keeps going to the gym every day.
So appreciate this Run of Rory or don't, but don't discount it because Tiger's hurt or Valhalla's easy or any of the silly reasons I've seen and heard being used. Rory McIlroy, 25 years of age, will be trying this week at the Barclays to do what only Tiger Woods, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and Jack Burke, Jr. have ever done: win four or more tournaments consecutively on the PGA Tour. If that doesn't impress you then I suggest you just slip in that 2000 US Open DVD highlight video because nothing the curly-haired kid does ever will.
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