US Open Golf 2011: Rory McIlroy Single-Handedly Saved PGA Tour

The 2011 U.S. Open became the first major Rory McIlroy won, but it should be remembered for what a 22-year-old Irishman did for the game of golf missing its No. 1 star.

With the eight-stroke dominating victory, immediately people wanted to put the Tiger label on McIlroy—and I can't blame them. 

Tiger Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open by 15 strokes and set a record for the lowest total of a U.S. Open. McIlroy broke 12 records in this win, including fastest to double-digits under par and the all-time lowest score.

This dominance in golf has not been seen since Woods, which has become a sport of revolving No. 1's and faceless stars since Woods' transgressions. 

Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and others are great golfers, but none of them has "it."

Then comes this kid, who rarely played in the United States, and wins the hearts and respect of American golf fans with his 2011 Masters performance.

Sure he lost—actually catastrophically exploded fits better—but he handled it with grace, poise and a maturity that has never been seen before.

Golf needs a face. What Woods did for the game cannot be said enough. He single-handedly opened the doors for players like, well, McIlroy.

People don't tune into golf to see a myriad of pros competing. They want a superstar. 

While I don't want to anoint McIlroy as a savior or the next big thing—to put into perspective, he has just won one major—he has the potential to be Woods' successor.

What he is, is a face; a face and personality people will tune into golf for. 

McIlroy said in a postgame interview, he knew Woods won by 15 before and wanted to "emulate him." Instead, he became the person Woods should emulate to become the dominating enigma known as Tiger.

McIlroy doesn't seem to want to be the next Woods. He seems to want to become something different.

And I cannot wait to see what that is.