Now, for sure, it's Rory time on top

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

There is no denying the passing of the torch now.

The Rory McIlroy era has begun.

The 25-year-old from Northern Ireland reclaimed the distinction as the top golfer in the world just hours after Tiger Woods, who dominated the game during McIlroy's childhood, gingerly climbed into the passenger seat of an SUV, unable to tie his shoes.

McIlroy passed Adam Scott, not Woods, on the world list with Sunday's two-shot victory over Sergio Garcia in the $9 million World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational. But even as injuries threaten to derail Woods' career, especially after his back surgery in March, it was Woods who drove the television ratings and the size of the galleries. It was Woods who grabbed the headlines and most frequently made the crawl on SportsCenter.

Perhaps no longer.

McIlroy has won three times since he broke off his engagement to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki on May 22 and decided to focus on his career.

Along with the BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour, McIlroy captured his third major at the British Open two weeks ago. On Sunday he won his first World Golf Championship, which came on his father's favorite course, Firestone Country Club.

He moved into the No. 1 spot in the World Golf Rankings for the fifth time and the first since mid-March 2013.

He'll be favored next week in the year's final major, the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., and in the four events of the FedExCup playoffs, should he elect to compete in them all.

McIlroy's run of success seems to encapsulate the power of a coast-to-coast slam dunk, while his dismantling of an elite field at Firestone looked almost effortless.

McIlroy said that wasn't the case.

"It's never effortless," he said. "You're trying hard out there. You're not to make it look like you're trying hard. If I can keep making it look effortless, that's a good thing."

But McIlroy admitted his recent surge is even better than his play at the end of 2012.

"I'm more in control of my ball and my ball flight," he said. "Mentally I'm really sharp.

"It's the most comfortable I've ever felt trying to close out a golf tournament. It felt like it was the first round or the second round. I didn't get ahead of myself. I didn't start to think about score. I didn't think about where I was in the tournament. I kept playing my shot, shot after shot."

Woods, an eight-time champion at Firestone, withdrew before McIlroy teed off, forced out by back spasms in the ninth fairway. His status for the PGA and beyond is uncertain.

It seemed appropriate that McIlroy not only showed some of Woods' trademark mental focus, but also Woods' willingness to step on his opponents' throats.

In this case, it was Sergio Garcia, whom McIlroy trailed by three shots entering the final round. McIlroy birdied the final two holes Saturday evening after a rain delay and the first three Sunday. That early surge, coupled with a Garcia bogey at No. 3, turned a three-shot deficit into a one-shot lead.

When McIlroy added another birdie at No. 5 for a two-shot advantage over Garcia, who was lacking his usual energy, it was game, set and match. (Sorry, Caroline.)

McIlroy credits his mental state to his decision to put golf first.

"I've just had this renewed focus and dedication and it seems to be paying off," he said.

As it does, McIlroy remains honest and open, unafraid to give members of the media glimpses into his personal life, including what he watched on television on Saturday night. Woods never did that, limiting his engagement to a clever joke or good quote now and then.

"Kick-Ass 2, I watched 10 minutes of Never Been Kissed," he said. "I'm really embarrassed I just said that." Those were followed by soccer -- Liverpool vs. AC Milan and Real Madrid highlights.

All that McIlroy ever wanted seems to be about to come his way, except, perhaps, the love of his life. And he seems ready to handle what it entails, the world No. 1, the focus, the practice and discipline required. He's hired a chef for next week at Valhalla.

"This is what I've always dreamed of," he said. "I grew up watching Tiger dominate in this tournament and dominate pretty much everywhere else he played. I dreamed of one day trying to do something like that.

"I'm not comparing myself because he's done this millions of times and this is only my first. So I'm not quite there yet."

McIlroy may feel like he has a long way to go. He has eight PGA Tour victories, including three majors. Woods, 38, has 79 tour victories and 14 majors.

But considering the circumstances of Woods' departure and McIlroy's determined early charge, "millions" does not seem out of McIlroy's reach.

Sports on 08/05/2014