Rory McIlroy: Why Golf's Best Young Star Must Capture 2012 U.S. Open Title

Rory McIlroy still has plenty to prove—make no mistake about it.

McIlroy became an instant star in 2011 when he set records at the U.S. Open, but people forget that was his only victory of the year. He had two top-10 finishes in six PGA Tour events after the U.S. Open and missed the cut entirely at the Wells Fargo Championship.

This year, McIlroy has gotten off to a good start, with five top-10 finishes in eight PGA Tour events, including a victory at the Honda Classic in March. On the other hand, he's flopped at the two biggest PGA tournaments of the year, finishing 40th at the Masters and missing the cut at the Players Championship.

McIlroy was being called the next big thing after his U.S. Open victory last year, but the reality is, he hasn't displayed the dominance we expected since then, particularly in the big tournaments. He needs to get back to his dominant self at the U.S. Open this year.

You also have Tiger Woods surging, which didn't seem possible after his collapse at the Masters. Woods has two victories on the year, and his win at the Memorial may have been his most impressive performance in years.

When Woods starts sinking 50-foot chip shots, it's time to put him back on the radar.

There is a wealth of legitimate contenders heading into the U.S. Open on Thursday. McIlroy needs to separate himself once again and show he's the No. 1 golfer in the world. If he wants to be the next great thing, he needs to seize his opportunities on the grand stage.

That starts with his driving accuracy. He ranks 127th on the PGA Tour this season in driving accuracy (56.5 percent). He ranks an impressive eighth in putting per hole (1.739).

What better tournament than the U.S. Open for McIlroy to assert himself against the competition? This is the time for McIlroy to get back on top.

Follow me on Twitter. We can talk about golf together.