U.S. Open Golf 2011: Why the PGA Tour May Be Entering the Rory McIlroy Era

Tiger Woods dominated golf like no other ever has. For over a decade, Woods was more dominant to his sport than anyone else in any other sport and was without question the best player in the world.

His time of dominance, which was already on the decline if not finished, is now over.

Rory McIlroy has been playing as good if not better than anyone else in the world for the past year, and is quickly making his way to being the world’s top player.

McIlroy just completed a legendary U.S. Open as he shot an all-time record U.S. Open record 16-under for the tournament.

The tournament has been held for 111 years, and no one has ever done what the 22-year-old just did.

After being much maligned after falling apart in Augusta earlier this year, McIlroy not only dominated the first 54 holes like no one before him, but played extremely well on Sunday. It was one of the greatest feats that I have ever seen, and I was as impress

It was a historical feat, and could just be the beginning. McIlroy had played extremely well the previous three majors, yet was unable to get a victory in any of them. This weekend, McIlroy was able to get over the hump and is now poised to set himself apart from the next generation of golfers.

It may be a little early to think of the next 10 to 15 years as the Rory McIlroy era in golf, but he is starting to set himself apart from the younger group of guys.

McIlroy also seems to have the confidence, fire, and determination that made Tiger one of the greatest golfers of all time. Will he be as dominant as Tiger was? Probably not, but he this win looks to be just the start of one incredible career.

McIlroy is an amazing young man along with being a great golfer. From everything I have seen he is very humble during interviews and shows great respect for the game of golf.

Perhaps the best thing to ever happen to him was that Sunday in Augusta earlier this year. He has said that he wasn’t quite sure then how he should finish the last 18 holes. Should he be aggressive? Defensive?

Needless to say, the young man figured out how to close it out this weekend, since he’d been closing it out from the opening shot on Thursday. The rest of rest of the world better take notice, because we are probably looking at the game’s next great.