US Open Golf 2012: Why Rory McIlroy Is Under Immense Pressure to Shine

Rory McIlroy will be under immense pressure to shine at the 2012 U.S. Open and prove that he can still be a legitimate star for the future of golf.

After winning the U.S. Open last year to make himself one of the best young players in the sport, McIlroy has really struggled in 2012 and has missed the cut in two of his last three tournaments. At the Masters he finished in 40th place after a good first two rounds.

McIlroy needs to prove to himself and his fans that he is able to compete at a high level in the biggest tournaments, because after he won at the US Open in 2011, he hasn't finished better than 25th in any major tournament.

His breakthrough win at the U.S. Open put a whole new level of pressure on McIlroy, and thus far, he hasn't been able to handle it. He's been able to start off several Majors well, but finishing them in the third and fourth rounds has been a real challenge for him.

If McIlroy does not finish in the top five at this year's tournament, then many people will never believe that he will be a star that can carry the sport going forward.

He needs to show the mental strength that made Tiger Woods so unbeatable in his prime. The physical talents are there for McIlroy, there's no doubting that, but the mental and emotional aspect of his game must improve.

He cannot allow adversity to get the best of him, because if that happens, he won't be able to play the four straight rounds of quality golf needed to win a major championship.

McIlroy is under the most pressure of any golfer at the U.S. Open this week, and how he handles these expectations will tell us a lot about the future of his career.