Rory McIlroy insists the days when Tiger Woods' rivals were intimidated by the 14-time major champion are over.
Teenage Kaymer was inspired by Woods' record win
Rory McIlroy insists the days when Tiger Woods' rivals were intimidated by the 14-time major champion are over.
Woods returns to Pebble Beach for this week's US Open 10 years after he tore up the California venue on his way to a record 15-shot victory in the year's second major.
Over the following decade the American's aura alone was almost enough to defeat his rivals on the final day of major championships.
But Woods has struggled since his return to action from a five-month break earlier this year and is no longer seen as the force he once was - most importantly by his immediate rivals.
That point was emphasised by world number 10 McIlroy, who told
Sky Sports News: "Guys at that time, they faced Tiger when he could just turn up and look like he was going to win the tournament.
"Now it is a little different. I wouldn't be surprised if he played very well this week, I wouldn't be surprised if he won, but the mentality has changed. You go up against Tiger on a Sunday now and you know that you have a good chance to beat him."
Nevertheless, Martin Kaymer admits that Woods' win in 2000 was an inspiration to him, watching back home in Germany as a 15-year-old.
The world number 13 said: "In 2000 he was dominating the entire tournament and for us it was inspirational. We were kind of like pumped watching on TV. How cool that is - that somebody's playing so well!"
