Any Good?

Easy game.

In case you hadn't noticed, Rory McIlroy can play some seriously good golf. He is going into Sunday's final round with an 8 shot lead. He has already broken a number of US Open records this week. He is currently at 14-under par, a score that no player has ever reached that many under par in the US Open.

Along with pretty much everyone else, I want Rory to win tomorrow. I would be willing to bet money that he'll win his first major tomorrow, but I won't because you won't win any money with that bet even if he does win. (Note, the odds on Rory winning on Sunday are 1/10. So bet $10 on him and if he wins you get $1 back).

However, it is not over yet. No lead in golf is insurmountable. Eight strokes can evaporate fairly quickly with a few poor holes. Rory has only had two poor holes in three rounds. A double bogey on Friday and a bogey on Saturday. The rest of his golf has been brilliant.

The golf media, and even some players, have already begun comparing Rory to not only Tiger Woods, but Jack Nicklaus. Padraig Harrington said that Rory will be the guy to break Jacks' record of 18 majors. I think Paddy might be getting a little ahead of himself.

Rory isn't Jack and he isn't Tiger. Rory is motivated, but I don't think he posted a list of Jack's record on his bedroom wall as a child like some kind of crazy person. He certainly didn't continually bring up that his ultimate goal was to break Jack's record. He's just a very good golfer that plays even better in big events.

Everyone remembers his meltdown at the Masters this year. What many people don't remember is that Rory led for three straights days at Augusta. In the 2010 PGA Championship, Rory was about 2 inches from holing a putt on the 72nd hole that would have got him into the playoff with Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer. At the 2010 British Open, Rory opened with a round of 63.

As I said, the kid likes the big stage.

Rory has yet to close out for his first major. He's got a very good chance tomorrow. I'll save the rest of my thoughts on Rory for after tomorrow's final round.

-A.