Rory

I was walking downtown today, on my normal lunchtime walk, when I heard someone passing by me say into his cellphone "Nine under!" and I realized I'd forgotten it was the first round of the British Open at St. Andrews. I also knew that someone had shot a 63 and I was anxious to find out who it was. No surprise that is was Rory McIlroy, who one day (I predict) will be the greatest golfer on the planet. He's already close.

That's not such a bold statement?  Many who follow golf think it's a foregone conclusion.  He verily drips with talent.  So long as he is a great putter - and so far he seems to be - he will be a great player.  (No golfer can be truly be great if they are not great with the putter.  Yes, that means you Sergio Garcia, and you, Adam Scott).  But the specific moment when I realized he was the next great star of the game was earlier this at Quail Hollow, one of the finest courses they play on tour, when McIlroy shot 66-62 on the weekend to win going away.  You don't do something like that at the age of 20 unless you're something special.  It simply isn't done by ordinary run-of-the-mill players.   Nicklaus and Woods could do it at 20.  Who else?  Who else has done something similar at such a young age and did not go on to be one of the greats?  I don't have my golf history books out but I would venture that no one else at 20 could match such a feet.

Which is the same thing I thought last month when watching Stephen Strasburg strike out 14 batters without a walk in his thrilling major league debut.  No one does that unless they are special.  Clemens did it during his rookie season, and couple other guys had similar type games as rookies, and they all turned out to be great.  Strasburg has had six more starts, all of which I've watched, and while none were quite so thrilling as his debut each contribute in some way to my conviction that he is the next great major league pitching star.

Back to McIlroy.  Not only does he have talent, but he has flair, the kind of thing that draws people to the game, that makes the game exciting.  I'm hoping for a Tiger/Rory shootout in the final round this week.  It would be riveting for all sorts of reasons - the new kid on the block trying to knock off the old, the damaged hero trying to regain his game and a piece of his dignity, etc.  And you know what?  For the first time in ages I think I'll be rooting for someone other than Tiger or Phil coming down the stretch.  Go Rory.