Rory McIlroy – The Face of New Golf

There has been only one name on the lips of golf pundits and fans as of late, and it is hard to wonder who that is: it’s Rory McIlroy. And for good reason; the 22-year old has taken the world by storm. His record-breaking performance at the US Open in June has created comparisons to a young Tiger Woods, but without the glamour and troubled social life. Without jinxing the young Northern Ireland native, whispers of greatness can be heard at most golf courses around the world.

An Impressive Year

McIlroy has seen a great season, recording three top-10 finishes and one Major victory in only seven outings. Currently riding the wave of his record 16-under at the US Open, McIlroy had no troubles holding on to his large lead after his 65 first round. Confident and composed under pressure, McIlroy never let the footsteps get to him, finishing a staggering eight strokes ahead of runner-up Jason Day. It appeared that the curse from the Masters – where he blew a four stroke lead going into the final round - is well and truly behind him.

Domination of the European Tour

There is no other golfer on the European Tour as feared as Rory McIlroy. In the Race to Dubai, he is ranked 3^rd with 1.72M Euros in winnings while currently ranked 4^th in the Official World Golf Rankings. Consequently, he was named the 2011 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month for June, which should come as no surprise thanks to that fateful weekend at the Congressional Golf Club.

Composure at a Young Age

It is difficult to find a young golfer who can maintain composure at any event, whether at Major or at a European Tour tournament, but McIlroy seems to be the only one who can manage it. Although some were concerned over his ability to stay focused, especially after his dreadful final round 80 at the Masters, few can argue that at such a tender age, McIlroy can compete with the big dogs, both physically and mentally.