Every Sunday night, the editorial staff of the SI Golf Group conducts an e-mail roundtable.
Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and
editors and join the conversation in the comments section below.
ANOTHER COMMAND PERFORMANCE
Mike Walker, senior editor, Golf Magazine: On a day when the leader board looked like golf's version of The Avengers (Phil Mickelson! Vijay Singh! Dustin Johnson! Lee Westwood! Tiger Woods!), Rory McIlroy pulled away for a two-shot victory. He's won three of the last four events he's played in, including the PGA Championship, and he's more than a decade younger than his closest rivals. How good can McIlroy get? Are we witnessing the beginning of a Tiger-like run of dominance on the PGA Tour?
Mike Walker, senior editor, Golf Magazine: On a day when the leader board looked like golf's version of The Avengers (Phil Mickelson! Vijay Singh! Dustin Johnson! Lee Westwood! Tiger Woods!), Rory McIlroy pulled away for a two-shot victory. He's won three of the last four events he's played in, including the PGA Championship, and he's more than a decade younger than his closest rivals. How good can McIlroy get? Are we witnessing the beginning of a Tiger-like run of dominance on the PGA Tour?
Jim Herre, managing editor, SI Golf Group: Geez, I've been
saying no, but now it's time to reconsider. Very impressive. He didn't
look a bit fazed by the scary leader board this week. Seems like he gets
extra energy playing with Tiger, and the dynamic of their relationship
-- at least on the course -- is really interesting.
Mark Godich, senior editor, Sports Illustrated: We'll never
see another run like Tiger had, but based on the way he attacked the
par-5s at Crooked Stick, Rory is my slam-dunk favorite for Augusta next
April. Everyone else can have the field.
Cameron Morfit, senior writer, Golf Magazine: I think it
depends on whether Rory's putting remains this good, as it has for his
victories in three of his last four starts. Then again, he's not playing
too bad tee-to-green, either. For all the big names chasing him, Rory
never looked very flustered.
Herre: That's what impressed me, Cam. Rory had to get up and
down a few times today, and even though some of his chips and pitches
were just OK, he only made one bogey. Cool as a cucumber.
Morfit: And I almost don't even count that bogey, since it was over by then.
Stephanie Wei, contributor, SI Golf+: Yeah, he kept attacking
and playing his game, which of course is made for a soft course, but
that bogey came on the 72nd hole when he knew he could double and still
win. No big deal.
Alan Shipnuck, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: I'm not sure
Rory can summon Tiger-like intensity every time he pegs it, but he's
clearly a big-game hunter who peaks for the majors and other important
tournaments. He's going to own this sport for the next couple of
decades.
Gary Van Sickle, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: Every time
the tour goes to a big, long golf course that plays wet and soft with
no wind, Rory is the guy to beat. The hang time on his shots is
remarkable. Players always look great when they win. Let's not forget
Rory was missing in action this summer for a couple of months. But he's
clearly the No. 1 player in the world, and I don't think anyone is going
to take that away from him for years. Not even Tiger.
Michael Bamberger, senior writer, Sports Illustrated: Who
knows? My guess he's on a roll, an incredible roll, but it would be
unlikely that he's going to go Tiger-like here. For one thing, you need
the cooperation of others for that to happen, and that's not likely to
happen.
Charlie Hanger, executive editor, Golf.com: I don't think
anyone will ever have a run like Tiger had, with, for instance, four
consecutive majors, but this is certainly as close as anyone is going to
come. Rory is pretty much untouchable right now. The Euros appear to
have a few points locked up later this month.
Jim Gorant, senior editor, Sports Illustrated: What's amazing
about him is not how good he can get, but how good he already is. So
much of his game is already so polished. It'll be all about desire for
him going forward.
Van Sickle: The putting help Rory got from Dave Stockton was
the last piece of the puzzle. He looks pretty good with the putter now.
That's the key club for him. For everyone.
Jeff Ritter, senior producer, Golf.com: He's the man of the
moment. Not sure if this will turn into a Tiger 2000 type of run, but
he's the guy to beat every time he plays until further notice.
Wei: I've been on the Rory bandwagon from day 1, and no one
can keep up with him right now, but I'll put away my pom-poms for a
minute to agree with Gary. Rory's been winning on soft courses. I'd like
to see him do it on a firm and fast track.
David Dusek, deputy editor, Golf.com: It's impossible to say
whether or not we are seeing the next Tiger-like run, but there's no
denying that he is playing at an incredibly high level right now.
Everyone cools off, but the truly great players are still exceptionally
good on their normal days. That's what separates them from everyone
else.
Tell us what you think in the comments section below: Is McIlroy about to go on a Tiger-like run?
No comments:
Post a Comment