Rory McIlroy's Inconsistent Play at Memorial Championship Defines Star

Rory McIlroy has been on a roller-coaster ride in Ohio. Unfortunately for him, he hasn't been to the famed King's Island amusement park in Mason.

McIlroy has been going through his ups and downs in Dublin, Ohio at the Memorial Championship. The inconsistent play shouldn't shock us. The 24-year-old from Northern Ireland has proven he can be really good and really bad from day-to-day.

Every golfer has a few poor days, but rarely do you see a player with so many special and downright dreadful rounds to their credit.

After a first-round six-over 78 left him in need of a monster day on Friday to avoid missing the cut, McIlroy responded with a four-under 68.

The solid second-round play assured he would play on the weekend, but he needed to play extremely well on Saturday to be a factor.

That didn't happen because "bad" Rory showed up again to produce a three-over 75. The day was marred by a double bogey on the third hole. The troubles on this hole assured he'd be mediocre at best on the day.

After winning five times worldwide and earning PGA Tour player of the year in 2012, McIlroy hasn't finished first yet this season. The young man that was supposed to take over the game from Tiger Woods has found being consistently good difficult.

Inexplicable poor stretches of play have always been a part of McIlroy's M.O. In 2008 when he was just 19 years old, McIlroy missed three-straight cuts.

That down period was easily dismissed and attributed to age. How long will youth be a passable excuse for his implosions?

Even though 2012 was such a banner year for McIlroy, he again missed three-straight cuts when the Memorial Tournament befuddled him a year ago.

The time has come to realize this is who McIlroy is as a golfer. 

Erratic play will probably always keep him from being one of the all-time greats of the game. Perhaps it is a lack of mental toughness, dedication or concentration that impedes him.

He doesn't appear to be intensively competitive and he's already extremely wealthy and successful; maybe he's satisfied?

No matter the root cause, the result is perhaps the biggest enigma in the sport. We'll probably be marveling at his talents and shaking our heads at his struggles until he hangs up the clubs.

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