Rory McIlroy: Why Golfer Will Cement Elite Status with 2012 Masters Win

Rory McIlroy is doing just fine in the 2012 Masters and needs to just continue his steady play in order to make a surge and win his first green jacket.

The young Irishman is the future of golf and looks more than ready to fill the shoes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson when they eventually fade into the sunset.

At just 22 years of age, McIlroy has already captured a U.S. Open victory, placed T-3 at the British Open and has two T-3 finishes in the PGA Championship. He also, infamously, was a four-stroke leader at Augusta last year before collapsing and finishing T-15.

It was understandable that a young man like Rory was rattled with a huge lead on the last day of such a prestigious tournament. He made up for it by winning the U.S. Open just two months later.

He’s now got a chance to redeem himself at Augusta National this weekend, and his second major in less than a year would make him the next in line to make a run at Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 major victories.

According to The Daily Record, Greg Norman—who infamously imploded at the Masters in 1996—gave the best advice to the upcoming superstar.

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He [Norman] could probably relate to me more than anyone else. He told me I was 21 when it happened to me and he was 41, so he made me realise it wasn’t my last chance,” Rory said. “He told me when I get myself into that position to be self-centred —create a bubble around you and don’t let anyone affect you or interfere with what you need to do.

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If McIlroy sticks to Norman’s advice, which reportedly helped him conquer the US Open, he’ll be in great shape to be fitted for a green jacket on Sunday night.