Rory McIlroy: Why Barclays Is McIlroy's Most Important PGA Event of 2012

After winning the PGA Championship two weeks ago, Rory McIlroy can be forgiven if he doesn't consider the Barclays as the biggest event of his season. However, it is going to turn out to be his most important. 

Once McIlroy won the PGA Championship, the second major victory of his still-young career, all the talk about him being the new It Kid on the PGA Tour started again. 

Here is what Michael Collins of ESPN said when discussing the prospects of McIlroy winning a career Grand Slam before age 30:

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He's got seven years to win two tournaments -- the Masters and the Open Championship. I'd have to say he'll have the career Grand Slam before his 28th birthday … easily. You think he can't have another performance at Augusta like 2011 but with a better closing back nine? You'd be crazy to think so. That gives him five chances at the Open Championship. I'll take that bet any day, too.

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McIlroy is as talented as any player on the PGA Tour, there is no denying that. When he is on top of his game, he can win the PGA Championship by eight strokes, at least. 

But it is what you do as a follow-up to your great performances that defines you as much as the great performances. 

One reason that Tiger Woods was so revered in his prime was not just because of his ability to dominate in the biggest events but because he stole the show in seemingly every event he entered. 

McIlroy, for as much talent as he has, is still trying to find a level of consistency on the course. Remember, he only has four career PGA Tour victories in five full seasons. At 23 years old, it is still impressive, but it is not otherworldly. 

He has missed the cut in three events this season, including at the U.S. Open. He does have six top-10 finishes, including his two wins, but he can be very volatile when he gets out there. If something goes wrong early, it has a tendency to snowball on him. 

What the Barclays event gives McIlroy the opportunity to do is show that he can maintain his performance from one big event to a lesser one right away. He needs to start winning these events and look impressive in doing so. 

Until McIlroy starts doing that, it is impossible to start thinking of him as one of, if not the, best players in the world. 

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