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/ Paul Krishnamurty / 21 June 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Woods and McIlroy together in California last year
"Golf and golf betting are completely different than they were during the Tiger era, and it would be unrealistic to expect Rory or anyone else to emulate Woods' dominance."
Paul Krishnamurty was as impressed as anyone by the young Irishman's performance at Congressional. However, it's unlikely that he will emulate Tiger's other-stratospheric feats and punters should remember that.
For now, we must bask in the moment. We've just witnessed an incredible feat, and a new British sporting hero has emerged. With some of the other 'icons' that represent, say, our football teams in mind, we should celebrate the fact that Rory McIlroy seems such a likeable, genuine bloke. It is unbridled good news for British golf, in particular Northern Ireland, which has now produced the last two US Open winners. Rory's breakthrough is exactly what the sport needed, especially with its talisman Tiger Woods increasingly resembling a spent force.
Having spent a relatively quiet trading weekend pondering Rory's sensational performance, I've concluded that it was the fourth best I've ever seen. For the record, the other three were all produced by Tiger - in no particular order, his first Masters victory, by 12 strokes just a few months after turning pro. His 15-shot victory in the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach, and again when landing this major in 2008, despite playing 90 holes with a broken leg.
I couldn't agree more with Steve Rawling's analysis that after such a performance, Rory is the real world number one, even if the rankings don't quite reflect it yet. Moreover, having captured the public imagination in spectacular style, he's certainly the punters' favourite, as illustrated by the massive gamble underway for next month's Open Championship. McIlroy's odds for the Sandwich showpiece have halved into [7.4] over the last few days, and were he to win in the meantime, would probably shorten to Tiger-esque levels.
At this point, serious punters must take a step back. No matter how good they are, everyone has their price, and I would struggle to manufacture an argument for backing any golfer nowadays at such short odds. Ultimately, golf and golf betting are completely different than they were during the Tiger era, and it would be unrealistic to expect Rory or anyone else to match Woods' former dominance.
Tiger transformed golf single-handedly. Before that first Masters title, Woods shared favouritism with much older players like Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and Fred Couples. Within months it became clear that they were yesterday's men. That isn't the case with Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, who are at their peak right now and remain as likely as anyone to win big events.
For roughly a decade, Woods was playing a different game to the rest. He had seemingly super-human ability, and a machine-like temperament, capable of stepping up a gear whenever required. I always argued that Tiger's only sporting equivalent was Sir Donald Bradman, whose 99.99 Test average remains in a completely different stratosphere to anyone else. However good Rory is or will become, it is unlikely that will ever be said of him.
Woods inspired a new generation, that would take several years to emerge. McIlroy is the first to reach super-stardom, but there is no shortage of alternatives. The USA has Rickie Fowler, Italy has Matteo Manassero, Japan has Ryo Ishikawa. Emerging golf superpowers like South Korea can boast numerous brilliant youngsters. My favourite is Aussie Jason Day, who did me an enormous favour yesterday by winning 'without McIlroy'. To finish runner-up on both his Masters and US Open debuts, two majors that usually reward experience and penalise novices, is a huge achievement. Day has less top-notch experience than Rory, and could well reach the same level over the next year or so.
Whoever fares best amongst them, dominating that lot will be impossible in my view. Moreover, by the time Rory hits 30, there's bound to be another dozen or so youngsters emerging, and prompting exactly this type of discussion.
More immediately though, we must look to Sandwich, where Rory's chance depends on the weather. In calm conditions, McIlroy is probably the best links player around. Even before he turned pro, he'd mastered the secrets of links golf, growing up in Northern Ireland. However, in windy conditions, Rory's high ball-flight has looked a serious handicap, and he lacks the verstility to cope. Take last year's Open for example, where he began with 63 in benign conditions at St Andrews, only to follow up with 80 when the weather turned for the worse the following day.
With his reputation and popularity at an all-time high, I expect the money will continue to flood in before the Open, but punters would be well advised to check the draw and weather forecast before parting with any cash.
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