Nike Golf Rory McIlroy ad tributes Tiger Woods (Video)

Nike Golf released an ad the week of the Masters that followed Rory McIlroy’s childhood and growth into golf and it tributes Tiger Woods amazingly

How this Nike Golf ad that follows Rory McIlroy’s childhood and his growth into becoming the No. 1 golfer in the world while tributing Tiger Woods doesn’t give someone chills would shock me.

Before I rant, take a look at the ad Nike released Sunday:

The ad called “Ripple” features a young boy playing McIlroy grow up to love the game of golf while watching Tiger Woods dominate in his prime. This comes after a New York Times Magazine feature on McIlroy talked about how Rory sent a letter to Tiger Woods when he was nine years old telling Woods he would soon be “coming to get” Tiger Woods.

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Now, Rory McIlroy is the story of golf as the No. 1 golfer in the world after he won his fourth major tournament and second of the season last year at the PGA Championship at the age of 25.

The ad shows Rory watching Tiger Woods on television dominate the game of golf and try to imitate Woods’ game on the golf course including making a putt in a junior event and doing the famous Tiger Woods fist pump.

As it follows Rory growing up, it ends with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy starting on the same tee box and after a Rory McIlroy drive, Tiger says “good shot there, man” and Woods and McIlroy walk side by side down the hole as it ends.

The ad, in my opinion, is one of the greatest Nike advertisements of all time. Not only does it show Rory growing up and get better and better as he’s committed to the game of golf, but it tributes the man who brought the sport of golf more popularity than it has ever had. Rory McIlroy joined Nike in 2013 and after dominant play in recent years, McIlroy has become the poster child for the game, overshadowing Woods who has dealt with injury and has played his worst golf in his career.

It was what every Tiger Woods fan needed. A sign of respect between Woods and McIlroy that many speculate isn’t there between the greatest golfer of all-time and the new face of the sport. But, it is there and Nike showed that beautifully.

Now, for the debate of whether Rory McIlroy is better than Tiger Woods was in his prime? The answer is no. Sure, Rory is the most dominant player in the game today, but I don’t see Rory accomplishing what Woods has already done and what Woods did so young in his career. Before the age of 26, Woods had 29 professional wins and six majors compared to Rory’s 16 professional wins and four majors before the age of 26.

And let’s not forget that Woods isn’t done. He’s 39 and while he hasn’t won a major since 2008, he is by no means done being a dominant golfer and he could return to his old ways any time. Jack Nicklaus did after a slump late in his career and then winning his last major at the age of 46.

Tiger Woods has won 14 major tournaments in his career and has 106 professional wins and his second all time on the PGA Tour with 79 wins. Woods completed the PGA Tour major tournament grand slam at the age of 24 when he won the British Open in 2000. He won three majors that year. Tiger Woods is still chasing Jack Nicklaus who owns the record on 18 major victories and I still believe that Tiger will get there.

But the man that stands in his way the most in undoubtedly Rory McIlroy. He has four majors to his name after he won the British Open and PGA Championship in 2014, and he will try to win the one major that has slipped past him in his career this week at the Masters. McIlroy deserves all the credit he’s been given, with the success he’s had at such a young age, and adding on to what Tiger has done for the sport.

Rory and Tiger are the story of golf and after Tiger Woods said he would play in the Masters in 2015 despite injuries he’s been dealing with, it makes a great storyline if McIlroy can get the grand slam with Tiger in the field.

Nike’s ad doesn’t just represent how McIlroy’s love for watching Tiger growing up got him so involved in the sport of golf, but it embodies what everyone growing up watching Tiger Woods has felt. Tiger Woods made this game the way it is today, grabbing the attention of every sports fan, not just golf fans, fueling kids to play a sport they maybe would never consider trying to play. He made people love golf with all the success he’s had and for Nike to capture that so beautifully in this two minute ad is remarkable and well done.

Stay tuned for FanSided’s coverage of the 2015 Masters here throughout the next week.

h/t For The Win

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