Rory McIlroy was sensational this past weekend at Congressional, where he took home the US Open Championship. Winning by 8 strokes and setting the lowest score in US Open history at –16, he is definitely worthy of much praise. But to call him the next Tiger Woods? Let’s relax here.
As brilliantly as McIlroy played this past weekend and how quickly he recovered from a meltdown at the Masters earlier this year, many quickly jumped the gun and named Rory the next Tiger. Heck, some even said he would surpass Tiger and catch Jack Nicklaus’s mark of 18 major titles.
This is all after he had won ONE major. Yes he was great, yes he was dominant, and yes he is still very young. But it is very difficult to win majors. At the Masters this year, he held the lead going into the final round, until he shot an 80 and finished well off the lead. It is hard to win majors, hence why they are called MAJORS. Players like Woods and Nicklaus are once in a generation players.
And Woods’ reign surely isn’t over. He will return healed from his current leg injury either later this year or next season and you can bet that this talk of a new golf king will be enough motivation to get Tiger going. During Tiger’s absence, no golfer has really stepped up and emerged as the next in line. Now with McIlroy seizing the moment, many have deemed him the likely successor. Surely Tiger will not hand the throne over gracefully, however.
Although McIlroy appears to be fed up with all the comparison to golf’s historic players, the media continues to ask ridiculous questions. Some are implying that he could create his own “Rory Slam” by winning the Open Championship, the PGA, and next year’s Masters. How about we wait and see if he can win the next one before asking if he will win the next three. You don’t talk Triple Crown after a horse wins the Kentucky Derby and you don’t need to talk Grand Slam until McIlroy proves himself in more than one major.
The kid is talented, very talented. He will surely win more majors, But let’s not rush to dub him the next great thing and instead let us let his career unfold.
And remember, in the distance, a Tiger lurks.
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