Jason Day full of praise for Rory McIlroy
February 8, 2018
Australia’s Jason Day has claimed Rory McIlroy continues to show plenty of similarities to Tiger Woods as he prepares to make his debut in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
The Northern Irishman, 10.00 to win the event, is making his first PGA Tour appearance since September 2017.
He failed to qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship but is showing signs of progress.
McIlroy has recorded top-three finishes in his first two starts on the European Tour and could be finding his rhythm as he looks to complete the career Grand Slam this year.
Woods is also back on the scene this year as he tries to climb the world rankings after a number of years on the sidelines with a back injury.
Day, 11.00 to win the tournament, believes the two are similar in style and he expects McIlroy to be competing for the title this weekend.
He told reporters: “He [McIlroy] is just explosive. Not only explosive off the tee and with his iron shots, but he can make a lot of birdies quickly.
“He’s a guy that’s not afraid of going low and lapping the field. We have seen that at the PGA and the US Open. I was on the back end of the US Open, I finished second there and I lost by eight.
“He’s not afraid, which is how champions think. I think the biggest thing for Rory is the desire part, how much do you really want it, because he has the tools to be kind of Tigeresque.
“Obviously Tiger is Tiger but to be in the same sentence as Tiger is pretty unique and special to be able to say that.
I think he has the ability to go out there and win more majors than he has right now and I’m sure that’s what he wants to do.”
