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| Rory McIlroy celebrates his PGA Championship victory aft
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Go ahead, unleash the comparisons.
At 23 years, 3 months, Rory McIlroy was 128 days younger than Tiger Woods at the point in which they captured their second major championships. But Woods, having turned pro later, needed fewer major starts to get there.
Woods made the 1999 PGA Championship his 13th career victory worldwide; McIlroy merely got No. 6 with Sunday's eight-shot PGA triumph. McIlroy holds the edge in combined margin of victory, 16-13.
You can even rewind to age 2, when McIlroy was popping 40-yard drives and Woods whacked balls into a net on the "Mike Douglas Show." McIlroy's TV turn eventually came at age 9, chipping into a washing machine on Irish airwaves.
Both have lived up to early anointings of greatness. Both have shown they can overpower a field of the world's best golfers.
Woods' legions will be quick to point out that their man hadn't yet gone into major overdrive at that point. But that wouldn't stop McIlroy's peers from filling the salt air with their own hosannas.
"Everybody should take note. The guy's pretty good," said Ian Poulter, whose own blistering five-birdie start Sunday never managed to bring him closer than two shots.
"He answered all the questions that were asked of him," said Graeme McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open champion.
Forgive Padraig Harrington for smiling a little broader than the others. The three-time major winner caught some flak after last year's Masters for suggesting that McIlroy — not Woods — would be the guy to break Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major titles.
That was after McIlroy frittered away a four-shot lead on Augusta National's back nine. Since then, the kid has won two of the last seven majors, and Harrington isn't quite so batty.
"He's lapped the field twice now," Harrington said, noting McIlroy's eight-shot romp at last year's U.S. Open. "He nearly did it at another one (2011 Masters). The only person that's ever done that in majors in my time has been Tiger."
Since 1976, only five majors have been captured by eight shots or more — three by Woods, two by McIlroy.
Age aside, perhaps that's the quality that makes comparisons so enthusiastic. McIlroy never was challenged over his final 36 holes in the U.S. Open at Congressional, taking an eight-shot lead into the final round.
On Sunday, he was tied for the lead when the storm-delayed third round resumed. He led by three when the round was completed. The margin was five shortly after he made the final-round turn.
"When he gets ahead, he's pretty amazing," U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III said. "He seems to have that ability that when it's a big tournament, he's right there just waiting to break loose."
Woods affirmed: "This is the way Rory can play. When he gets it going, it's pretty impressive to watch."
But as McIlroy himself was quick to point out, the parallel paths will separate quickly unless he keeps the accelerator down.
"I've won my second major at the same age as he had," McIlroy said, "but he went on that incredible run in 2000, 2001, 2002."
The 2000 U.S. Open was Woods' next major, setting him on the path for the wraparound Grand Slam. When he completed the cycle at the 2001 Masters, he had six majors at 25 years, 31/2 months.
Toss in the 2002 Masters and U.S. Open, and Woods was up to eight majors before age 27.
"I'd love to sit up here and tell you that I'm going to do the same thing," McIlroy said, "but I just don't know."
It's probably too much to suggest McIlroy could even approach that pace. That doesn't mean it won't be compelling theater.
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