Rory McIlroy says `too early` to consider himself as Tiger Woods’ rival

London: World No. 2 Rory McIlroy has said that it is too soon to term him as a fierce rival for reigning golf ace Tiger Woods, following Woods`s statement that he regarded the Irish as his biggest rival and the standard-bearer of the new generation.

Woods, 37, deposed the 23 year old Ulsterman as world No 1 with back-to- back victories in the build-up to Augusta, and they seem poised for a real clash of the generations. However, McIlroy, who re-ignited his own Masters hopes by finishing runner-up at the Valero Texas Open, said that he refused to view the Augusta National as a head-to-head duel with Woods, adding that he is too in experience d to consider himself a rival of Woods. McIlroy, who has struck up a friendship with Woods since also signing with Nike this year, further said that a player tends to have a rivalry with someone who has had similar success as him, adding that as compared to Woods 77 PGA Tour events and 14 Majors, he has only six PGA Tours and two Majors. The Northern Irish golfer also said that he would not be doing justice to Woods if he saw himself as a rival to the World No.1. ANI