Golf: Rory McIlroy gives revealing interview regarding his relationship with Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Photo / Getty Images

The Irish Independent's Paul Kimmage published an intimate interview with Rory McIlroy, in which McIlroy details his relationship with former World No 1 Tiger Woods.

McIlroy, who sees himself as "one of the biggest Tiger fans you will ever come across", also admits he "wouldn't trade places with Tiger Woods for all the money in the world".

Although an idol on the course, Woods' lifestyle is something that McIlroy will never try to emulate.

"I've seen it first-hand. I've seen what his life is like in Florida. I've played golf with him and said: 'What are you doing tonight? Do you want to come and have dinner with us?' And he can't. He just can't. And for me that's unfathomable. I could not live like that. I could not live like that. If someone was to say, 'You can have 14 Majors and 70 wins but have to deal with that, or nine Majors and 40 wins and stay somewhat the same as you are', I'd take the second option all day."

McIlroy also revealed that Woods, who has struggled with insomnia, will send him late night text messages, much to the annoyance of his fiancee Erica Stoll.

"He's an intriguing character because you could spend two hours in his company and see four different sides to him. When he's comfortable and he trusts you - and his trust (sensitivity) is way (higher) than mine - he's great. He's thoughtful. He's smart. He reads.

"He can't sleep so that's all he does - he reads stuff and educates himself on everything. But he struggles to sleep, which I think is an effect of overtraining, so I tell him to calm down sometimes. He'd be texting me at four o'clock in the morning: 'Up lifting. What are you doing?'

"Erica actually got pissed off with it. He was texting me in the middle of the night and I was like, 'Tiger is in the gym'."