20 Feb 2013

Faldo predicts less than best this year for McIlroy, Woods

11:41 am on 20 February 2013

The English golf commentator and former world number one Nick Faldo doubts that the growing rivalry between Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods will necessarily see either player at his best this year.

Faldo believes McIlroy made a "dangerous move" by changing his club manufacturer earlier this season in a massive commercial deal, and he believes Woods, the winner of 14 major titles, can never recapture his dominance without coming up with a "go-to" shot to use in pressure situations.

McIlroy has had four weeks off since an inauspicious start in his first event with Nike equipment, missing the cut at the Abu Dhabi Championship last month, and Faldo believes Woods hasn't regained the self-belief he had before his private life unravelled at the end of 2009.

Both players are in the field of 72 for the World Matchplay championship starting tomorrow at Dove Mountain in Arizona.