Is Rory McIlroy the next "Star" of Golf

[tomalak301]

There's been an interesting story on the talk shows and blogs this weekend and that is Rory McIlroy tearing it up at the US Open and it's made me wonder if he might be the next "Star" of golf. Now, it might be a little premature to think that, but he is way up on the field this weekend and it teared up the Masters other than the final day in April.

Also, I get the sense that Golf is desperate for a star people can get behind. After all the issues of Tiger Woods, it seems like his career might be past his prime, and one of my major issues with Golf over the last 5 or so years is no one really stepped up to take that place. Phil Mickelson kind of reminds me of Dale Earnhardt Jr in that while he can win and people love him, I wouldn't necessarily say he's the star of his sport. Also, we've had such a mix of winners since that whole Tiger Woods thing that it feels like Golf is in a deep funk.

I was watching the US Open yesterday to see what this guy was and I know it's early and probably way to early to ask this question. Still, the way he's been playing I can't help but ask.

 

[Geck]

I'm not normally that interested in watching when a guy has such a huge lead, but he put on a damn fine show this weekend. And he comes off as such a genuinely nice kid that I was really rooting for him, especially after the Masters meltdown. That's what he has that Tiger never did - a palatable personality. Whether he achieves Tiger's level of consistency and dominance will be interesting to watch, but he's definitely got the skill set. I'll be rooting for him.

 

[tomalak301]

I think that's what I enjoyed most about him. He seemed to take everything in stride, and I even noticed his face was pretty much the same after each shot, good or bad (Most of the time, good). I enjoyed watching Tiger play, but his attitude was a turn off sometimes. I hope Rory manages to keep his head on straight and doesn't change. He can breathe some life into a sport that desperately needs it.

 

[Angel4576]

His focus and concentration seems to have come on leaps and bounds over the past 12 months. Yesterday he didn't even give the smallest hint that he even grasped the enormity of his pending accomplishment until something like the 16th hole!

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Yes, he is. He's enormously talented and he isn't an arrogant, moody asshole like Tiger. He's in like flint with the fans.

 

[highlander]

I have to admit that I haven't watched a lot of golf since Tiger has been a non factor. But I checked out the Masters and really rooted for Rory then, and this weekend I watched a lot more than I have in a long time. I like the kid and he has the skills to be the next "great one".

 

[Danny99]

I'm not normally that interested in watching when a guy has such a huge lead, but he put on a damn fine show this weekend. And he comes off as such a genuinely nice kid that I was really rooting for him, especially after the Masters meltdown. That's what he has that Tiger never did - a palatable personality. Whether he achieves Tiger's level of consistency and dominance will be interesting to watch, but he's definitely got the skill set. I'll be rooting for him.

Bingo!

If Tiger had had half of the personality Rory seems to have, most people would be rooting him on coming back from his "sex addiction."