"Rory McIlroy beats Dustin Johnson if they both play their best" - Chamblee
Brandel Chamblee believes Rory McIlroy is better than Dustin Johnson when they both bring their A-game on the PGA Tour...
Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy spearhead the betting ahead of this week's Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour, so what better time for outspoken golf analyst Brandel Chamblee to answer questions on who is the better golfer when both are on their A-game?
Golfweek put the question to the one-time PGA Tour winner ahead of the Riviera event this week, and Chamblee believes four-time major champion McIlroy pips the current World No.1 Johnson when they are both playing at 100%.
"If they both play their best golf, I think Rory beats him," Chamblee told Golfweek in a Q&A.
"Rory won majors by eight. DJ at this point in his career is winning tournaments by wide margins. I think it is very close. I’d love to see Rory play his best golf.
"How many times have they gone head to head? WGC Mexico, DJ got the better of him. I remember seeing Rory shortly after that and he said when you run into someone playing that type of golf and you’re not playing as well you just can’t beat him.
"Think about Rory at the 2011 U.S. Open or 2012 PGA, that guy versus Dustin Johnson right now, I’d like to see that, I think Rory would win, personally, but it would be a hell of a battle."
Johnson starts a warm 5/1 favourite at this week's Genesis Invitational, fresh off capturing his second Saudi Invitational title in three years on the European Tour two weeks ago. He also has fond memories of Riviera having won this tournament in 2017.
McIlroy, currently ranked sixth in the world, is next up in the betting this week at 12/1 as he goes in search of winning his first tournament since the WGC-HSBC Champions at the end of 2019.