:: March 09
March 12, 2009 - Rory McIlroy makes game look like child's play (Article by Justin Rose)
It would be fair to say that golf has taken a back seat for Kate and myself these past few weeks after the arrival of Leo, our first child. We had been told what to expect, but nothing really prepares you for the sense of awe and shock you feel when you have your first baby in your arms. Suddenly everything else seems to pale into insignificance.
Needless to say, my game has been a little off, but I am hoping to get back into the swing of things at the WGC-CA Championship in Miami, starting today. As you might expect, there will be great interest in Tiger Woods, who will be playing his first strokeplay event in eight months. But the cameras in Florida will also be pointed in the direction of Rory McIlroy - and no wonder.
I had heard a lot about Rory before I played with him in the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic last month, and although he wobbled a bit before crossing the finish line in first place, he showed why so much is expected of him. I have been asked what my first impressions of him were and all I could say was that he started that day with a two-shot lead and went birdie, birdie, birdie. That's one way to make an impression.
Not only that, but he learnt a lot about himself that day, in particular how to dig deep when the pressure is at its most intense. I had been six shots behind with six to play, but by the time we got to the last hole there was only one shot in it. To his credit, Rory kept his nerve and walked off with what I'm convinced will be the first of many titles. Major championships? No doubt about it.
It is hard to complete your first tournament win. Rory had lost in two play-offs before that victory in Dubai and he must have been feeling it down the finishing stretch. But now he is over that hump, winning will be less of a problem for him. He is only 19 and he has learnt some great lessons already. Most important, he has learnt what it takes to win.
He has a great golf swing and a terrific temperament. Inevitably, people have asked me what advice I could give to him, particularly because I turned pro at 17 and also had to learn to stand on my own two feet pretty young in life. But he has gone past the advice stage. He is ahead of me in the world rankings, so you could say he doesn't need the advice. Perhaps he could give me some...
If pushed, I would say that the only thing Rory has to be careful about is getting too far ahead of himself and listening to all the praise that is being heaped on him. This is a tough game, there are some great players out there and winning, as he knows, is never easy. But he is level-headed and has a good team around him. And, like me, he has great family support. You could see it when he gave his winner's speech in Dubai. He was very composed until he got around to thanking his parents and then he became very emotional. His mum and dad have given him a fantastic, stable grounding that will take him a long way.
At this stage I would say that Rory's greatest attribute is physical rather than mental. He strikes the ball beautifully; hits it a long way and on a good ball flight. And although he hits the ball high - perfect for playing in the United States, by the way - he also seems to be very good in the wind, which gives him all the options in the world for playing in any conditions.
He has come over to the States for the first time and has had a good start. He played really well in reaching the quarter-finals of the Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson, Arizona, a couple of weeks ago and then he played well at the Honda Classic, in Florida, last week. It will be interesting to see how he does this week at the CA Championship, his second World Golf Championships event, at Doral.
I know it is impossible to say that a player will definitely win a major - after all, there are some great players who have never managed it - but, as I mentioned, I think you can say that Rory probably will go on to win major championships, plural. He is that good. Goodness, I'm 28 and I still feel that I'm just getting into my ten years of prime. Between 28 to 38 you have to think that now is the time to put into play everything you have learnt over the years and have your ten best years. Rory has ten years of prime before he gets to his real prime.
I have seen some great young players in my time, but I can't think of anyone I would put ahead of Rory. That said, there are four or five unbelievable youngsters coming through, including Ryo Ishikawa, of Japan, Danny Lee, of New Zealand, and Noh Seung Yul, of South Korea - three teenagers who are ready to push the envelope. That can only be good for the game because great rivalries get people interested. It is fantastic to play in Tiger's era, but equally it must have been a great time for golf when the Big Three - Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player - were in their prime.
My aim for 2009 is simple: to have the best year since I came on tour. On a personal level, Leo's arrival has already made it the greatest year of my life and I would like to use that as my inspiration. He has helped me to put things into perspective - to give it 100 per cent when I'm on the road and to give it 100 per cent when I'm at home. Hopefully, having that balance in life will spur me on to some great golf. Now is the time.
