Golf Comment: Swing perfection, a cool head, hunger to win: why Rory’s the best by miles
WHEN Tiger Woods burst onto the scene in the 1990s, the American was the best player that we had ever seen. It’s no exaggeration to say Rory McIlroy, following successive Major wins and his return to world No1 ranking, has hit those same heights. There’s no limit to what he could achieve over the next five or 10 years.
For some time now McIlroy has been a threat to golf’s elite, but, as he reminded us all on Sunday in winning his second US PGA Championship, he is the best bar none – and by miles, in my reckoning.
Butch Harmon, perhaps the best coach in the world, summed it up well. Harmon analysed the Northern Irishman’s swing in forensic detail and came to the conclusion that, at every single stage of the action, McIlroy’s posture and execution was perfect. It doesn’t get better than that.
Consecutive victories at the Open, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and now the US PGA: we are witnessing McIlroy at his very best. The magnificent, aggressive manner in which he tackled the back nine on Sunday night, driving down 14, 15 and 16, was a case in point. When he is on song his game flows like honey – or perhaps lava is a better analogy.
It’s only three years ago that he shot a closing 80 at Augusta as the Masters slipped from his grasp. That episode could easily have tainted his career for a long time. Instead he obliterated it, claiming the US Open months later, and is now a four-time Major winner.
McIlroy’s appetite also sets him apart. He is learning every day, and that steely glare in his eyes as he closed in on victory on Sunday said everything about his desire to win more titles. He doesn’t let anything upset him. At one stage on the back nine he was three shots off the lead, but he is just so good that he knew all he had to focus on was his own game. That mentality is a wonderful asset.
TIGER SLAM
You have to say well done to Phil Mickelson, who finished just one shot behind and made sure of his place in the United States Ryder Cup team, and Rickie Fowler, a further shot adrift.
It is now surely a case of when not if Fowler wins a Major, having been top five in all four this year. He is doing everything right, but has just come up against someone better each time.
Henrik Stenson, tied for third with Fowler, put in his best performance of 2014, while England’s Lee Westwood again showed encouraging signs that will have pleased European captain Paul McGinley. Welshman Jamie Donaldson was also excellent.
There was no doubting the star, though. Rory is the third youngest man, after Tiger and Jack Nicklaus, to win four Majors. He is certain to complete the career grand slam by winning the one Major to elude him so far, the Masters. Perhaps more intriguing will be whether he achieves the Tiger Slam, by holding all four Major titles simultaneously.
Sam Torrance OBE is a multiple Ryder Cup-winning golfer, a European vice-captain for this year’s competition, and a media commentator. Follow him on Twitter @torrancesam
AGE AT FOURTH MAJOR
Tiger Woods
24 years, six months and 24 days
Jack Nicklaus
24 years, 11 months and 21 days
Rory McIlroy
25 years, three months and six days