Rory McIlroy: shoulder to shoulder with Tiger

McIlroy joins Tiger

Even before you open the box containing Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11, you will notice a huge break with tradition for the latest iteration of the world’s favourite golf game. For there, on the cover, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the great man Tiger himself is perhaps the fastest-rising young hotshot in professional golf, 21-year-old Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy.

There’s method behind this apparent invasion of Tiger’s accustomed solo starring role on the cover of the game which bears his name: Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11 contains a virtual take on this year’s most anticipated golfing event: the Ryder Cup, which will take place in October at Celtic Manor in Wales. So, obviously, a European poster-boy was required, and McIlroy is that man.

Thrillingly, we had a chance to get up close and personal with McIlroy – at the very place which will provide the backdrop to countless sporting feats in October. EA Sports decided to motion-capture Rory McIlroy (thus adding a perfect facsimile of his immaculate swing to Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11) and opted to perform that motion-capture session in the clubhouse of Celtic Manor’s 2010 Course, on which the Ryder Cup will be played.

Thus, assorted media and technical staff gathered in a spacious function room transformed into a temporary motion-capture studio, with 12 motion-detectors arranged in a circle around a piece of Astroturf pressed into service as a makeshift virtual tee/fairway/green. In strode McIlroy, clad in a tight-fitting motion-capture suit studded with reflective balls (which even extended to his trademark cap).

Showing a refreshing lack of self-consciousness, despite being dressed in a less than flattering manner with about 30 people he watching, he got stuck into the mocap session, going through the whole process of practice swing, ball address, swing and follow-through with driver, irons and putter (all also customised with reflective balls). Monitors at the back of the room displayed a skeleton precisely following his movements assembled by the machinery, in real-time. It really is stunning to behold how motion-capture – once an arcane and fiddly process involving endless retakes and recalibrations – has now become a quick and more or less foolproof technique, thanks to the onward advancement of technology.

Afterwards, McIlroy stuck around at Celtic Manor for the rest of the day, giving interviews and playing the par-three 17^th hole for the benefit of the TV fraternity (particularly with a chipping masterclass). After that particular exercise, he came back into the clubhouse and replayed the 17^th hole in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11. As befits a man who firmly belongs to what has been dubbed the PlayStation generation, he amazed the surrounding onlookers by holing it in one.

Amid the clamour surrounding him, we managed to sit down with McIlroy, who was very impressive indeed. You would not think he was just 21 – his demeanour mixes an impressive maturity with a commendable absence of the sort of ego that you invariably find in the top sporting stars. His stock having risen to sky-high levels following his recent victory at Quail Hollow in the US, where he shot a Tiger-like course-record 62 in the final round to win, this is what he had to say.

 

Q: How important are games like Tiger Woods PGA Tour in broadening golf’s appeal?

RM: It’s huge. I think that ever since it came on the scene, in 1997 or whenever, the game has got a lot bigger, and with the advance in technology, it has really revolutionised the sport.

Q: Were you a gamer?

RM: I still am, yes. I don’t play as much as I would like, but when I get home now, I can play then. I’m big on all the sports games – I’m not a Call of Duty player. I play FIFA all the time, and obviously the Tiger Woods game; Madden, NBA and those games.

Q: So it must be nice to be immortalised in a game now?

RM: Absolutely. I’ve been in the game for a couple of years, but to be actually on the cover, and doing the motion-capture, really makes you feel a part of it. It’s cool to see yourself on the TV, and to be able to play as yourself.

Q: How did it feel putting on that suit? Did you feel self-conscious with a roomful of people?

RM: Yes, definitely – I didn’t realise there would be about 30 people there. It was OK – it had to be done for the game. But I was glad to get out of it.

Q: I was surprised by how quick the process.

RM: Obviously, with the advances in technology, it’s just run-of-the-mill stuff these days. But it’s great. I’m happy I’ve done it, because it will make my character in the game look more realistic.

Q: With you on the cover standing next to Tiger, they’ll have to rename it Tiger and Rory’s PGA Tour soon, won’t they?

RM: (Laughs) This is the first time Tiger hasn’t been on the cover by himself for ten years or thereabouts. It’s a great honour to be on the cover, especially with Tiger. I know he’s had his problems off the course but, as a golfer, he’s probably been the best player ever, so being on the cover with him is a pretty big deal for me.

Q: But you can’t gloss over the fact he has had problems. Do you feel you’re on an upward curve while he’s in a dip? Your famous 62 at Quail Hollow would have been described as Tiger-like. Is that something you aspire to?

RM: He’s set the benchmark so high. Not just myself, but guys of a similar age to me have watched him when growing up, and he’s been the guy we’ve tried to aspire to. He has set the levels very high, and that’s why there are so many good young players coming through at the moment. He’s definitely one of the reasons why I practiced, picked up a golf club and got to be as good as I am now.

Q: Do you think he’ll soon be back to the Tiger of old?

RM: Time will tell – who knows what is going to happen in the next few months? But he has obviously still got the ability; he just needs to be able to focus it all on the golf course, and not have all the other stuff around him get into his head. Once he sorts everything out off the golf course, then I’m sure he’ll come back and play as well as he ever has.

Q: How does playing the videogame compare to playing golf in real life?

RM: It’s a lot easier in the game, sometimes. Obviously, if you’re playing the game, it’s easier to control the swing, but you still have to put the ball in the right positions, and to read the putts. In that respect, there are a lot of similarities. I suppose if you’re playing on the Wii, you’re swinging the controller, so it is a bit more similar. I suppose on a rainy day when you can’t get onto the golf course, playing it on the Wii is the next best thing.

Q: What’s the Celtic Manor 2010 course actually like to play?

RM: It’s a good golf course. It’s a typical new-style golf course: quite long, with big greens and a lot of bunkers and a bit of water. And it will be great for the Ryder Cup, because you’ve got quite an exciting finish. Fifteen is a driveable par four. Sixteen is a really tough par four, then you’ve got a par 3, par 5 finish, and anything can happen on the eighteenth with water in front. With it being a par five, if you get a good drive away, you’ll maybe get to the green in two.

Q: Are you confident you’ll be back here for the Ryder Cup?

RM: I hope so. I didn’t do myself any harm a couple of weeks ago [at Quail Hollow]. I’m second in the points list, so hopefully, a couple of decent finishes should see me into the team.

Q: Have you had much communication with Monty?

RM: Not really – I haven’t seen him in a while. He’s obviously been playing over in Europe and I’ve been in the States, so it will be a good chance to catch up with him at Wentworth and chat to him a little bit. Actually, my girlfriend is very excited, because she’s been getting fitted out for all the Ryder Cup outfits – she’s going to come over with me.

Q: Looking forward to the Ryder Cup again, do you have much matchplay experience?

RM: Yes, I have. When we were growing up, playing amateur golf, all I wanted to do was play for Ireland, and all the team events were matchplay. I played the World Matchplay last year and got the quarter-finals; I got beaten in the second round this year. And I’ve played on the Seve Trophy team and the World Cup team, so I’ve had a little bit of experience, which is good; I know some of the Americans don’t probably play as much matchplay as the Europeans do, so we’ll hopefully have a little bit of an advantage going into October.

Q: In the game, which is your favourite course?

RM: St Andrews, because it’s my favourite course in real life. But it’s so similar when you play it, and the greens are exactly the same – you know when a pin is cut and it’s going to be tough to get to and stuff.

Q: What are your aspirations for the rest of this year and looking forward? You’re currently ranked number nine in the world.

RM: I’m glad to get back into the top ten, and I’d love to get into the top five. But the world rankings aren’t a huge goal of mine, because if you win tournaments, the world ranking takes care of itself. So, just to win more tournaments. Quail Hollow was only my second win as a pro, and I’d like to get a few more wins before the season is out. If I could do that, I would be happy.

Q: And there’s every golfers big step: winning a major.

RM: Yes, it’s a huge step and, you know, I’ve got a good opportunity – I’ve got three more majors this year. I’m just looking to go to them and play well, and if I can get into contention or get in with a shout, I’ll be very happy. I’ve got plenty of years to win a major  – it’s not a major priority at the minute.

Q: Who are your best friends on tour?

RM: Graeme McDowell is probably my best buddy on tour. And then you’ve got guys I grew up with in the amateur ranks: guys like Oliver Fisher and Danny Willett. Although I don’t get to see them so much as I’m playing more in America than over here.

Q: Are there any aspects of your game you would like to improve?

RM: Yeah: all areas, to be honest.

Q: But any in particular?

RM: yes. I give myself good chances from maybe 15 to 20 feet for birdies, and I could probably hole a few more putts from that range. My putting has been pretty good this season – the putts you need under pressure from short range, I’ve been very good at. But the putts for birdies, I feel I could hole more of.

Q: At Quail Hollow, what was your mindset going into the weekend? Did just making the cut free you up to really go for it?

RM: Yes, it did. I was just happy to make the cut. On Saturday morning I was like: “At least I can get another two days out of this place, and go around and try to play good golf.” But there were no expectations – I was just going out and playing. I shot a good score on Saturday to get myself in position going into Sunday, where I could have a charge at the leaders. You know, I was able to do that on the front nine and then pulled away from them a bit on the back nine. It was nice to be able to do that. Winning is a great feeling, and hopefully I can get a bit more of that feeling this year.