Rory McIlroy has said that former world number one Tiger Woods probably drops two shots per round due to the raucous fans that follow him around the golf course.
Woods failed to make the cut at the Genesis Open this weekend after shooting a 76 during Friday’s second round, leaving him on six over through two rounds.
His playing partner, McIlroy, sits two under, five shots off the lead, and seems quite content to let the focus of the gallery concentrate on Woods.
“It might always have been like this, like the whole Tiger mania and these dudes, but I swear, playing in front of all that, he gives up half a shot a day on the field,” McIlroy said.
“It’s two shots a tournament he has to give because of all that that goes on around. So, whether that calms down the more he plays and it doesn’t become such a novelty that he’s back out playing again, I don’t know…
“But it’s tiring. I need a couple Advil. I’ve got a headache after all that.”
Woods agreed with McIlroy but admits that it is a factor he has had to deal with throughout his entire career.
“It’s cost me a lot of shots over the years,” said Woods.
“And it’s been a lot because all it takes is one shot on a Thursday and you lose the tournament by a shot on Sunday.
“What people don’t realise, it’s not just something that happens on Sunday afternoon – this is cumulative and it’s par for the course. But I’ve dealt with it for a very long time.”
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