British Open Golf 2011: Does Golf Need a Tiger Woods vs. Rory McIlroy Rivalry?

Rory McIlroy, the 22-year-old from Northern Ireland, has shown us his immense talents and capability of winning Majors.

Bursting onto the golf scene with his phenomenal first three days at the Augusta Masters followed by his win at the US Open at Congressional, he began to make people wonder if he truly was the next big thing.

Whether or not he is going to win as many Majors as the great Tiger Woods is irrelevant, but with the up-and-comer finding consistent success at such a young age, will Rory McIlroy have rivals that will challenge him as well?

At just the age of 35 (which isn't so old in golf and when compared to other sports), Tiger Woods is still good enough to be a Grand Slam contender himself, although many personal blockades have recently been established in his life.

Sure, Woods hasn't played since the 2011 Players Championship, when he withdrew early on due to plaguing leg injuries. But, we all want to see him rise back to the top as much as he does.

After his injuries subside and he gets used to practicing and playing again competitively, he will be a major threat at the Majors (pun intended). It is very possible that he could add even more titles to his collection of 14 Grand Slams (although he hasn't won one since the 2008 US Open).

So far in this year's Open Championships it seems as though people aren't as caring of the fact that there is a Grand Slam underway, and this has nearly everything to do with Tiger Woods' absence from the game.

In order to spark the liveliness that recently faded in golf, we need Tiger Woods—or somebody else that can take his place. Since we all believe that Rory McIlroy is a giant, and since he proved it by winning the US Open decisively, he could be that other or next guy.

But, wouldn't it be even better to have Tiger Woods AND Rory McIlroy competing at a high level against each other in big tournaments?

Their reputations would sky-rocket again, TV ratings would flourish and everybody would be eager to get to a television, computer, or even the golf course itself to watch the new and thrilling rivalry.

Yes, golf needs Tiger Woods back.

Yes, golf needs a rival for Rory McIlroy.

Yes, golf needs both requests fulfilled simultaneously.

And yes, my redundancy is clever.