Top ranked Rory McIlroy has never been shy about his golf beginnings, especially his admiration for golf giant Tiger Woods. In his latest profile for the New York Times magazine, McIlroy shared a snippet from his past that would even make Woods blush: he unveiled a note written by his nine-year-old self forewarning Woods that he was “coming to get” the golf great. Fast-forward a decade or so later, and McIlroy has had the chance to do just that.

Just ahead of this years Masters a couple of weeks back, Nike Golf released an ad placement dubbed “Ripple.” It features a young McIlroy through the years, molding his game off the very same moves that landed his famous predecessor in the history books. In the video, McIlroy shapes the player he would eventually become in his hero’s footsteps. The commercial, touching as it was, wasn’t enough to usurp an untouchable Jordan Spieth on the Master’s field, the montage of McIlroy over the years — watching a then-untouchable Woods — was a thoughtful reminder of how the past feeds the future, and how greatness lingers.

• Watch on Youtube