The 52-year-old American played with the talented Northern Irish teenager today at Emirates Golf Club as the 19-year-old claimed the first round lead with an eight-under-par 64 although in admittedly favourable conditions.
The score also came a day after new Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie named him as a potential candidate for Celtic Manor next year.
McIlroy has yet to win a senior title after heartbreaking play-off defeats at the 2008 European Masters and 2009 Hong Kong Open, but after seeing the much hyped-up talents in person, O’Meara is certain that breakthrough will soon come and lead to even greater heights.
“Ball-striking wise at 19, he’s probably better than what Tiger was at 19. His technique I think is better. Certainly Tiger has developed his game and swing over the years and made modifications to be able to hit the ball pin-high, but Rory is already doing that and he’s 19, so he’s already a step ahead,” said O’Meara after his opening round 77.
McIlroy played his first professional event as a 16-year-old in 2005, while Woods waited until he was 21 before leaving the amateur ranks.
“He has the notoriety and people have expected a lot out of him certainly in Europe and they are going to see what he can do,” added O’Meara.
Tremendous
“He’s going to win quite a few tournaments, not only on the European Tour, but also in America too and there’s no reason why he can’t win a major championship. He’s got it.
“It was a joy to play with him and he’s a tremendous young man. He handles himself extremely well, way above his years in maturity so to me that’s just as important as how he plays and his technique. There is nothing but bright things ahead for him.”
A nine-year-old McIlroy watched O’Meara beat Woods to win the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth in 1998, while he owns a ball the American used to hole from a bunker on the 18th in his final defeat by Montgomerie a year later.
After play this morning was delayed for over two and a half hours due to fog, McIlroy signed for nine birdies against just a solitary bogey having driven into a bush on the 13th.
He ensured a one-shot lead over European number one Robert Karlsson, who carded a bogey-free 65, with a 15-foot birdie putt at the last after striking into the heart of the green.
“It’s very important to get off and running with my first win, but as I keep saying, as long as I get myself into the position on Sunday, all of those experiences will become valuable. Sooner or later I’ll be able to win one,” said McIlroy.
“But it’s not my main priority, my main priority is just to try and get in there in contention on the back nine on a Sunday. If one falls my way then that’s fantastic, and if it doesn’t, I’ll keep trying and keep trying to put myself in a position to win.”
British Masters champion Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano carded a six-under 66 to sit third alongside South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel, who was one of 60 players unable to complete their rounds as bad light brought an end to play following the morning delay.
Frenchman Gregory Havret and Sweden’s Alexander Noren sit three back, with Abu Dhabi winner Paul Casey bouncing back from missing the cut last week in Qatar with a bogey-free 68 to join in-form South African Louis Oosthuizen, who has finished second at his last two events, Hartlepool’s Graeme Storm and Justin Rose at four under par.
Hennie Otto made it three South Africans inside the top 10 as he joined the quartet at four under with four holes to play of his first round.
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