Nine-year-old Rory McIlroy’s threatening letter to Tiger Woods

RORY McIlroy’s pursuit of taking over the top spot in golf from Tiger Woods began well before McIlroy turned pro.

RORY McIlroy’s pursuit of taking over the top spot in golf from Tiger Woods began well before McIlroy turned pro.

McIlroy, who will arrive at Augusta National next week looking for a Masters title to complete the career grand slam, admitted he wrote a letter as a nine-year-old telling Woods he was coming for him.

According to McIlroy’s uncle, young Rory showed considerable confidence even then.

In an email to the New York Times, Brian McIlroy paraphrased the note sent by young Rory: “I’m coming to get you. This is the beginning. Watch this space.”

Rory McIlroy as a child prodigy.

Rory McIlroy told the Times he did, indeed, write the letter.

“A lot of those memories have kind of blurred together,” said McIlroy, now 25. “But, yeah, it went something like that.”

It’s not known if the note ever got to Woods, but by now, certainly the message has been received.

McIlroy joined Woods and Jack Nicklaus last year as the only golfers to win four majors by the age of 25.

Awkward...

Woods has yet to publicly announce whether he will compete in the Masters, which begins next Thursday.

He hasn’t played since withdrawing from a tournament at Torrey Pines on February 5.

According to the Augusta Chronicle, a plane with the same tail number as Woods’ was seen Tuesday at a nearby airport, leading to speculation Woods was heading to Augusta National to prepare for the Masters.

Originally published as Nine-year-old Rory McIlroy’s threatening letter to Tiger Woods