Thursday 7 May 2015 13:23, UK
Masters champion Jordan Spieth believes he has a long way to go until he can be compared with world No 1 Rory McIlroy.
The world No 2 heads to TPC Sawgrass looking to bounce back from a first round exit at last week’s WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship, which saw McIlroy beat Gary Woodland in Sunday’s final to extend his advantage at the top of the world rankings .
The pair will tee off together alongside Jason Day this week and although Spieth's record-breaking win at Augusta National last month closed the gap on the world No 1, he admits he's still not close to challenging the Northern Irishman.
“As far as a rivalry goes, he moved even further away from it really being what I would consider a budding rivalry right now,” Spieth said. “I could certainly appreciate if I can get to where he’s at, but right now I don’t see myself there.
"I think it’s still early especially with what he just did (winning the WGC). His back was against the wall in so many matches so to pull it off was aweseome.
“There’s a lot of hard work that’s needed to get there (to No 1). It’s a huge goal of mine to make it interesting with him and possibly take over No 1 but I know he’s as far ahead of me as I am with the next eight guys, so with that being said it’s anyone’s game to go up there and make it interesting.”
McIlroy will look to claim one of the few big titles so far missing from his glittering CV in the Players Championship at Sawgrass this week.
Victory in San Francisco on Sunday meant McIlroy joined Jack Nicklaus (17) and Tiger Woods (29) as the only players to win 10 events on the PGA Tour before their 26th birthday, with a win at TPC Sawgrass high on his agenda.
While McIlroy looks to complete back-to-back wins for the first time since last summer, he was keen to play down talk of a rivalry with Spieth.
"I’m pretty much just paying attention to myself, just trying to get myself around the golf course, regardless who I play,” McIlroy told reporters at the pre-tournament press conference.
“Last year it was Rickie (Fowler), this year it’s Jordan and then it might be someone else. There has been four or five rivalries over the past year so it doesn’t really do anything for me.
“There’s going to be a buzz around the group and a bit more excitement, but to me I’m out there focusing on my own game and trying to do the best I can.”
Watch the Players Championship live on Thursday from 6pm on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
