Watch Out Tiger, Rory’s Closer Than You Think!
Rory McIlroys win in Quail Hollow a few months ago, completed in a manner with which only pure golfing geniuses posses, was his official arrival on the world scene. His swashbuckling aggressive style is refreshing in a game that is clouded with technical analysis and his gentle, accepting demeanor on the course suggests McIlroy has it all to be not just a champion, but the peoples champion. It almost seems like the public are ready to adopt a new hero. One that can give them everything they want, everything that a certain Tiger Woods looked sure to give until Tiger believed he was too big for just about everything that had made him what he was.
I personally have lost a lot of respect for Tiger Woods, the golfer. Over 12 months ago I wrote on this blog about his disgusting behavior on the golf course……the club banging, the foul language, the spitting and just his all round petulant spoilt ways. Nothing I have seen since his dramatic comeback at the Masters has led me to believe he has changed in any way, although I do acknowledge the fact that the personal problems he is going through are anything but pleasant and to have it played out in the media like it has been, must be incredibly difficult. However, once he steps on that first tee, he has a responsibility as the World number 1 and sadly, he is failing the game of golf badly in my opinion at this stage. Sure, he could go on and win another 10 majors but true champions are not only be measured by the success, but on how they handle failure. In the words of Rudyard Kipling:
“If you can meet with triumph and disaster
and treat those two imposter’s just the same……
…Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And - which is more - you’ll be a Man my son!”
Of course, I could be wrong about McIlroy. Perhaps he will flatter to deceive in similar fashion to previous pretenders to the throne like Sergio Garcia. It seems McIlroy is a different breed though. He looks ready to step up and adopt the role of the closest thing to Tiger Woods that golf has today. Mickelson, Westwood, Harrington and Rose are all incredible talents and indeed Mickelson is vying hard to become world number 1 but McIlroy is another step up in class. He reminds me of the Tiger Woods of old that we all fell in love with….the prodigy that revolutionized golf and provided us with some of sports most fascinating memories that will long remain etched into the record books. Things change though and unless Woods can change and adapt to a new role where he must accept his imperfections on the golf course, it won’t be long before McIlroy is breathing down his neck. In fact, he already is.
The next few years could be one of the most fascinating in the sport of golf. As I have alluded to, the stage is now set and two incredibly talented sportsmen look set to go to head to head to determine just who is the real champion of golf. My money is on McIlroy to take Tigers crown, but will he ever be able to match what the Woods of old has achieved…..I find it hard to accept, but maybe, just maybe…..
