Redemption: Rory McIlroy breezes to start-to-finish U.S. Open victory

Rory McIlRoy cruised to his first major victory, redeeming himself from past disappointment. (Photo: REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger)

After his collapse in the final round of the 2011 Masters, 22-year-old Irishman Rory McIlroy handled going from first to 15th place as well as possible. Within the positive spin under usually deflating circumstances, he said, “I’ll have plenty more chances. I know that.” It didn’t take him long to come across another chance, and this time, in the U.S. Open, he dominated for all 72 holes, not just for the first 63.

He was incredible, as flawless as a golfer can be. He set or tied 12 U.S. Open records along the way. After what befell him at Augusta it was hard not to root for him, and it is now hard not to believe that McIlRoy will be the face of the game for a long time.

His performance in winning his first major was very similar to the way Tiger Woods used to, leaving his competition in his wake. In 1997, Woods won the Masters by 12 strokes. At Pebble Beach in 2000, Woods won by 15 strokes. McIlroy didn’t match either of these margins, but had the rest of the field playing for distant second.

He did do something Woods could not: eclipse 12-under in a U.S. Open. He reached -10 after 26 holes, and had passed the aforementioned threshold by the third round. He had the lowest 54-hole score in the major’s history, and with that, the fourth youngest to lead the U.S. Open was ahead by eight shots entering the final round.

He then did something else Woods would appreciate, something he couldn’t accomplish before. He didn’t take his foot off the gas pedal, and in adding to his lead he made everyone forget about his horrendous back nine at the Masters. Redemption was sweet.

He made it look so easy, making birdie after birdie, hitting nearly every green in regulation, and pounding drive after drive down the middle of the fairway. And when he wasn’t increasing his incredible score he was parring the most difficult holes. He converted a two-putt from 40 feet. Everything was going his way, especially when it seemed it wouldn’t.

This was no more evident than on the sixth hole. In the fairway after laying up, he chunked a wedge and was then forced to hope the ball would clear the greenside water. It looked as if it wouldn’t. He was preparing for that, but, by inches, it left a divot in the fringe and catapulted onto the green. He eventually parred, and watched his playing partner, Y.E. Yang, birdie. His lead had been trimmed to nine.

I’m sure McIlroy was continuously in awe at his performance. I mean, his lead was nine strokes. Nine. Even still, he’s a cocky, confident, club-twirling, and fist-pumping kid who strives for perfection, resembling the 1990s Tiger Woods. He bogeyed the 17th for his first three-putt of the tournament. He was mad about a second shot on 18. He wants to be the best, and after this dominating performance he is. This was just the beginning of something great.

And this would have been a competitive finish if not for him, with players bunched at -7 and -6. It was his tournament, and in leading from start to finish he redeemed himself and became a household name, and as celebrated as anyone has been on the course. The thousands of fans in attendance were chanting his name, yelling words of encouragement just after he made contact. The atmosphere was Tiger-esque. He was Tiger-esque.

After he tapped in for par on 18 after a brilliant birdie putt down the slop, he motioned to his father. This was the first moment when it all seemed to hit him. What have I done? Am I really in this position? And it was father’s day. The best of screenwriters couldn’t have drawn this up any better.

Fellow Norther Irishman Graeme McDowell was looking on, he who won the U.S. Open last year. After his countryman finished off his fourth round in the 60s, something only four others have done in the tournament, McDowell hugged McIlroy’s father, who said, “How about that? Back to back.” It was a heartwarming moment, setting the stage for McIlRoy’s interview, his first of such magnitude, with the U.S. Open trophy by his side.

“The whole week has been incredible,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked for much more.”

Bob Costas asked him about how his past influenced this lopsided victory. “Augusta was a very valuable experience for me,” he said. “I knew what I needed to do today to win. At Augusta I learned a few things about myself and my game. And I put a few things into practice, and it paid off.

“I knew I needed to do something pretty bad to lose it,” he added, smiling. And this time he didn’t.

Asked if he should play more in the U.S., he said, “I might have to”, fueling a good laugh from him and the crowd. He will, and with his talent, expect him to. And expect him to win.