Feb 02

Rory McIlroy is golf's new superstar

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If you did not watch the golf tournament in Dubai, you missed one helluva coming out party. Nineteen year old Rory McIlroy took the measure of a very strong European Tour field and fulfilled enormous expectations by bringing home the chalice last Sunday. Left in his wake was nearly the entire Ryder Cup team that played in Valhalla, save Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter.

McIlroy showed amazing poise for a teenager. After opening with birdies on the first three holes of his final round, he hit a rough patch where he gave back all three of those shots by the eighth hole. Immediately he righted the ship and made five straight birdies to have a stranglehold on the tournament. Almost. Three straight bogies ensued, starting with number 15, including a camera-click-at-the-top-of-the-backswing special (which he didn’t even mention in his post round interview) on the 17th. And how interesting was it that McIlroy had a 4 foot knee-knocker to win on the final hole. He missed a similar putt last fall in Switzerland to complete a blown 4 shot lead. Not this time. The talent is undeniable and he appears to be learning the lessons of winning at a rapid pace not seen in Europe since Seve Ballesteros came on the scene.

I had the great fortune of catching that broadcast live. The European Golf Channel announcers proved once again how much better they are than the US crew. When McIlroy sank the final putt, the call was “A star is confirmed.” Perfect.

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9 comments

  1. § Ron Mon® Email said on : 02/08/09 @ 17:28
    Horse ka-ka. He blew tournaments last year and he almost gagged this one away. He's more Bobby Clampett and Gary Hallberg than he is great champion. Shanks, I love your writing, but I'm against you on this one.
  2. § Shanks® Email said on : 02/09/09 @ 07:17
    Is that ka-ka with a "K" or a "C"?

    Funny, but I don't remember Clampett or Hallberg winning pro events against a world class field at 19 years old.
  3. § Lorcan Email said on : 02/09/09 @ 19:24
    Shanks is spot on the money, this kid is going all the way. Just watch and listen to the people who know... The other pros!
  4. § Wendy (UK) Email said on : 02/10/09 @ 14:22
    Ha! More of Ron's caca de cheval.

    Rory didn't throw a tantrum at the camera click (unlike ?) and made a steely final putt to win against a great field, all as Shanks has said. I think it's far too early to say whether he'll be a superstar, and feel he may struggle in learning the ropes on the US tour for a while, but there's no doubting this 19-yr. old has talent and guts aplenty.

    Could do with a haircut, perhaps?
  5. § Shanks® Email said on : 02/10/09 @ 14:35
    I see this year as the learning year for McIlroy playing in the States. In 2010, I predict he will contend in at least one of the Majors, probably at the Old Course, where he has played extremely well.
  6. § Wendy (UK) Email said on : 03/01/09 @ 10:00
    Utter bliss to watch ALL 16 players on Friday, wasn't it?

    Way to go Rory!
  7. § Shanks® Email said on : 03/02/09 @ 08:57
    Indeed it was. McIlroy played very well but just ran into a buzz saw. Shhhh - I hope to pick him up in my fantasy league next year.
  8. § Meraj Shah Email said on : 03/26/09 @ 06:22
    In a recent interview he said that his hair held his strength, just like Samson! Jokes apart the kid is crazy fearless and doesn't seem to beat himself too much when his risky play doesn't pan out well. Saw him lose the Hong Kong Open in a playoff after whistling a hard 30 foot draw around trees and from the rough to within ten feet. He lost just becasue his opponent Lin Wen Tang played the shot of a lifetime. He's going to win big this year
  9. § Shanks Email said on : 03/26/09 @ 07:33
    I happened to catch the end of that tournament too. It's all part of the learning curve.

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