Rory McIlroy: Masters 2012 Failures Shouldn't Ignite Overrated Chants

Rory McIlroy, the current No. 2-ranked golfer in the world and former No. 1, has failed to put together a solid tournament at the Masters for the second consecutive year.

However, it is anything but an indicator of just how talented the golfer from Northern Ireland is.

In spite of placing 44th with a score of six-over par, McIlroy has proven that he has the talent to win on the grandest of stages.

This season, McIlroy has participated in four PGA tournaments and two European tournaments, ranking in the top five in each tournament with the exception of his poor showing at Augusta. This includes a victory at the Honda Classic in March and a second-place finish at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

Given his ability to consistently be a top-five contender in each of the other tournaments he has played in this season, there is no question that McIlroy is far from overrated. His ability to stay at the top with consistency is a quality few players in today's game posses.

Not to mention, just last season McIlroy finished 15th at Augusta, a significantly better showing than he had in 2012.

The other key component when talking about a golfer like McIlroy, is the fact that he is just 22 years of age. A golfer with as much talent as McIlroy has, at his young age, is especially unique. There is no question that McIlroy can and will improve his game to eventually win on the grandest of stages.

It is also important to understand the simple fact that every golfer has their off days, as it was clear McIlroy was not hitting the ball as well as he had earlier on in the season. Much like Tiger Woods, arguably the best golfer in sport history, this 2012 tourney was simply a poor showing for each of the two talents.

Expect McIlroy to continue his strong play this season, as it is clear that this is just a bump in the road for what should be an especially promising career for him.