Former NFL quarterback Derek Anderson, who worked as a caddie at the Zurich Classic, has offered his verdict on Rory McIlroy's on-course demeanour. Anderson, a scratch golfer, carried the bag for Kevin Chappell during the event in New Orleans, where McIlroy was paired with Shane Lowry.
Speaking on GOLF's Subpar podcast, Anderson admitted he had not always been a huge admirer of McIlroy but was struck by his imposing presence. 'It's just different. The sound's different. Kind of the way he goes about it,' Anderson said. He compared McIlroy's confidence to Tiger Woods, noting the Northern Irishman's intent and self-assurance.
Anderson was particularly impressed by McIlroy's resilience after hitting a bad shot. 'He hit one in the lake, Shane hit one in the lake. Nothing changed; they kind of just went about it and kept going,' he said. 'That's what I thought was most impressive.'
However, Anderson did cause a minor irritation for McIlroy during the round. He inadvertently moved behind the green while McIlroy was chipping, distracting him. Anderson apologised five times, saying: 'Rory had stepped off the chip. Apparently, when I looked down I bothered him.'
McIlroy, who won the Masters last year and successfully defended his title in April, is currently competing at the PGA Championship, the second major of the season.
