U.S. Open Golf 2011: 5 Reasons Rory McIlroy Can Win More Majors Than Tiger Woods

In a tournament dominated by Tiger Woods in the past, the 2011 U.S. Open is serving as the stage for Rory McIlroy's grand entrance into golf immortality.  

Best known for his epic meltdown at this year's Masters, McIlroy has managed to successfully erase his final round collapse at Augusta from our collective memories in just 36 holes of golf at Congressional Country Club.

What we are seeing unfold is the birth of golf's next superstar, and it's eerily similar to what we witnessed 14 years ago at the 1997 Masters.

Hailing from Northern Ireland and at just 22 years of age, "Rors" is on the verge of giving golf fans exactly what they've been begging for since the end of the 2008 U.S. Open—the next Tiger Woods.

5. He's on Pace

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

BETHESDA, MD - JUNE 16: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt during the first round of the 111th U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club on June 16, 2011 in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Assuming McIlroy is able to hold on to his six-stroke lead this weekend, he will win his first major at the age of 22.  

By comparison, Tiger Woods won his first major at 21 years of age and his second major (1999 PGA Championship) at 23.

If McIlroy can win just one of the next six majors after the U.S. Open, he will remain on Tiger's pace.

4. He Loves the Majors

Andrew Redington/Getty Images

BETHESDA, MD - JUNE 14: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a bunker shot during a practice round prior to the start of the 111th U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club on June 14, 2011 in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

In the six majors prior to winning the Masters in 1997, Tiger Woods had the following finishes:  T41, WD, T68, CUT, T82, T22.

Meanwhile, McIlroy has done the following in his last six:  T3, CUT, CUT, T3, T3, T15.  

With three top-three finishes in his last six majors, it's clear that Rors is ready to finally cash in that first major chip this weekend.

3. He Has a Good Head on His Shoulders

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

DUBLIN, OH - JUNE 03: Rory McIlroy of Nothern Ireland hits his tee shot on the par 5 5th hole during the second round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 3, 2011 in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by

When you watch McIlroy play, you really get the sense that he genuinely enjoys the game of golf and everything that comes along with it.  He's often seen laughing and smiling during his rounds, and never seems to get too high or too low.  

Even when he shot an 80 on Sunday at Augusta, he handled it exceptionally well both during the round and afterwards while taking questions from the media.  You almost knew that he would bounce back quickly because you could tell he had already put it behind him and was ready to move forward with both his life and his golf game.

With Tiger Woods, golf has always been his "job," and he's never seemed to truly enjoy it, a fact he recently admitted after all of his personal demons were exposed for the world to see in 2009.  

As mentally tough as Tiger is, you really have to start to wonder how much longer he's going to want to continue to play a game that he's lived and breathed since the age of two—especially now that he's not winning on a regular basis.

2. He's Healthy

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

VIRGINIA WATER, ENGLAND - MAY 28: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts to his tee shot at the 2nd during the third round of the BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club on May 28, 2011 in Virginia Water, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty I

McIlroy has a seemingly perfect golf swing and more importantly, a golf swing that isn't likely to lead to an injury 10 years from now.  

As long as he stays healthy, McIlroy is going to be in contention at every Major Championship for the next 20 years.  

Fast forward to today and Tiger Woods is trying to figure out a golf swing that will put the least amount of pressure on a left knee that's already been operated on four times.  

His ferocious golf swing and the amount of torque it required eventually caught up with him after all these years.  No doubt, it was truly a thing of beauty from 1999-2002, a stretch where he won seven out of 11 majors, but he's now paying the ultimate price.

Tiger has been forced to withdraw from this year's U.S. Ope due to injury—his third DNP in the last 14 majors. 

1. Time Is on His Side

Warren Little/Getty Images

VIRGINIA WATER, ENGLAND - MAY 26: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland waits on the first green during the first round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club on May 26, 2011 in Virginia Water, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

With a win this weekend at Congressional, McIlroy will trail Tiger Woods by 13 majors.  He'll play 74 more majors by the age of 40; now ask yourself, can he win 17.5 percent of those?  

If you've been watching golf for the last two days, I think we all know the answer.

Sitting at 11 strokes under par after just 36 holes, McIlroy is well on his way to breaking the all-time record held by Tiger Woods for the lowest score in U.S. Open history.

As a result of the wet conditions, the golf course is extremely soft and receptive this week, leading to slower greens and lower scores.

Look for McIlroy to finish the weekend around 15 strokes under par and as a result, taking the first step in the great race to catch Tiger Woods.