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At last – something new
For years the golfing world’s biggest story has been whether
Tiger would eclipse Jack’s record 18 majors. The golf media, fearing this tale
has run its course, have been desperately seeking a worthy replacement. With his
Open Championship win at Royal Liverpool last Sunday, Rory McIlroy has answered
their prayers.
His two previous major wins, the US Open and the PGA, have both been won by a
margin of eight shots. This one, however, required the young Northern Irishman
to dig deep over the final holes as the chasing pack started to close in. The
manner with which he maintained composure and fluency of swing told us something
we didn’t know before: he doesn’t need everything to be going his way in order
for him to win. This new-found attribute – an ability to graft – will, when
combined with his golfing genius, lead to more majors in the future, perhaps
many more.
Only two other players have won three majors by the age of 25; Jack Nicklaus and
Tiger Woods. With McIlroy’s name being mentioned alongside such illustrious
company, the world’s golfing media has found its new buzz. And so it will start…
how many majors will he win, by when, and what about the grand slam etc., etc.
The Royal Liverpool’s Hoylake layout is a par-72 containing four par-fives. To
McIlroy, however, it was more akin to a par-68. There was a period of play
during the third round that exemplified this. By the time McIlroy reached the
12th, he was even for the day, but thanks only to his short game. His closest
competitor, Ricky Fowler, playing in the group in front, was six-under and
sharing the lead.
Fowler bogeyed three in a row from the 15th, while McIlroy birdied the 13th. It
was shortly after this when McIlroy did what no-one else managed to do. On the
par-five 16th, he drilled his drive long and straight. His second, a towering
four-iron from 252 yards, finished 20 feet from the hole. He made the putt for
eagle.
After a bogey on 17, he again sent a booming drive down the par-five closing
hole. At this time Fowler was holing out with a birdie to finish with a 68, and
within four shots of the lead. McIlroy’s second to 18 was a five-iron,
absolutely flushed from 239 yards. Again it was sent high, allowing the ball a
soft landing where it came to rest 11 feet from the pin. He holed the eagle
putt.
In the course of six holes, McIlroy’s six-shot lead had been restored. There are
some who can drive it longer than McIlroy, but not many. There may be some that
can get as much height out of their long-irons, but if they exist, they didn’t
show it at this Open. McIlroy’s feat of eagling both the 16th and 18th holes on
his third round made a huge statement to his competitors, the watching fans and
to the golfing world generally. In hindsight, it was probably this stretch that
won him the tournament.
Yes, golfing fans the world over are used to watching McIlroy magic. When all
the stars are aligned, we know that when he is good, he is very very good. But
what happens when the doubts creep in? To where does that most fluid of swings
disappear when the going gets tough? We have seen the melt-down at Augusta in
2011. We have also seen many more situations where, faced with distractions of
varying kinds, the boy-wonder has either lost his cool, or his swing, or both.
But not this time. Not at this Open. Not when his lead dropped from six down to
two, as Sergio closed in with a brilliant last round 66.
McIlroy’s mettle has been questioned more than once, but as Jack Nicklaus noted:
“The other guys put the pressure on him with what they did,” Nicklaus said.
“Rory then did what he had to do. That is the measure of what you are doing. It
is not to go out and shoot another 66. It’s shooting what you have to shoot to
win the golf tournament. I like his swagger and I like the way he handles
himself. I like his desire to be great. I like his desire to do the things he
needs to do. I like that in a young guy. He’s cocky in a nice way.”
What a perfect description of Rory McIlroy – cocky in a nice way. It is so
descriptive, so accurate.
So, how good could he be?
Colin Montgomerie: “I think he is eventually going to take over from Nick
Faldo’s position as Britain’s greatest player,” Montgomerie said. “There’s
plenty more to come. He won six majors, Nick, and I think Rory is well on his
way – not just to that but the grand slam as well. He’s just got the Masters to
finish off all four majors and very few people do that.”
Gary Player: “I said long ago he’ll be the next man to win a grand slam. The
Masters is ideally suited to him. He has so much talent. Tiger is not finished.
He is one of the most focused and is the most talented man I have ever seen, but
Rory is not far behind. I expect great things from Rory. I think he will
complete the grand slam in the next two years.”
There is one huge difference between McIlroy and Woods which has nothing to do
with golf, but a lot to do with how they will be viewed by golfing fans. One has
candour, in bucket-loads – the other has none.
The king is dead. Long live the king.
Golfnutter
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