How Tiger Woods made Rory McIlroy's childhood dream come true

Rory McIlroy's success in professional golf has allowed him to fulfill many of his childhood dreams. Meeting Tiger Woods, competing against him, and being his friend are among the most important.

McIlroy said this himself during his pre-2024 Open Championship press conference at Royal Troon Golf Club. When asked by one of the reporters covering the event if he is still surprised by the things he has accomplished, the Northern Irishman had this to say (via X @PGATOUR):

"I always say this and it sounds a cliche but I don't take it for granted, that I can wake up every day and try to live out my childhood dream. One of my childhood dreams was to meet Tiger Woods, but not only that, but to compete against him and to, you know, befriend him and become close to him."

He added:

"Not in my wildest dreams that I think that I'd end up in the position that I'm in, but very grateful for it and, yeah I I still have to remind myself a lot that, you know, this is my life." [0:01 - 0:37]

Rory McIlroy started his professional career in 2007. He has won 40 tournaments, including 26 on the PGA Tour (four majors). He has also won the FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour three times and the Race to Dubai on the DP World Tour five times.

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How did Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy meet?

Tiger Woods is 13 years older than Rory McIlroy. When Woods was already a world star, McIlroy had not even started his amateur career. In fact, when their paths first crossed, it wasn't in the strictest sense of the word.

It happened at the Mount Juliet Hotel & Golf Course in County Kilkenny, Ireland, where Woods was playing in the 2002 World Golf Championship-American Express Championship. A 13-year-old McIlroy traveled there to watch him win the tournament.

Just five years later, McIlroy began his own story in professional golf. He started competing on the European Tour (now the DP World Tour), and by 2009, he was a consistent player on the American-based PGA Tour.

However, early in his career, in 2008, he received an invitation from Tiger Woods to play in the tournament now called the Hero World Challenge. In doing so, Woods recognized the Northern Irishman's outstanding amateur career and his meteoric rise as a professional.

Later, when McIlroy was already one of the world's top golf stars, Nike signed him to a 10-year, $150 million sponsorship deal. At the time, Nike was also Tiger Woods' primary sponsor.

The pair's work with Nike helped cement the friendship between the two. Rory McIlroy is still on Nike's roster, while Tiger Woods was signed through the end of 2023.