Rory McIlroy's performance this past weekend at Congressional is something that any golf enthusiast will remember for a very long time. McIlroy shot the lowest total (16-under 268) in US Open History and broke the previous record held by Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus by four shots.
The 22-year old kid from North Ireland led the tournament from start to finish and won the championship by an astounding eight shots. It was the first major of his career.
This championship comes just two months after a collapse on Sunday at the Master's that saw McIlroy shoot an 80 with a 4-shot lead heading into Sunday. What was painfully difficult to watch in April was substantially easier to watch on Sunday. He started off his round with a birdie on the first hole and the crowd, and most people watching breathed a sigh of relief. People there did not want to see a repeat performance of the Masters.
But this was not the same player we saw just a few short months ago. He was confident, he was relaxed but most of all he was poised. The calm-during-the-storm attitude that McIlroy played with to not only win his first major in record-breaking fashion, but to do it with the weight of the Masters debacle makes this an all-time moment for not just McIlroy, but golf in general.
Golf needs a young superstar right now and McIlroy's humble persona, not to mention his ability, make him the perfect candidate to take this sport by storm over the next dozen years. Even some of the greats of the past and golf's current stars can't help but praise what he was able to accomplish this past weekend.
Jack Nicklaus - via NBC.
"I think this kid's going to have a great career. I don't think there's any question about it. He's got all the components."
Luke Donald - World's current number one golfer. via ESPN.com
"As I've said before, I think he has probably the most talent I've ever seen from a golfer."
Phil Mickelson - via ESPN.com"
You can tell that Rory has had this type of talent in him for some time now, and to see him putting it together is pretty neat to see."