Now where was I some 10 weeks ago after Rory McIlroy had bled so horribly all over the final nine holes of the Masters and gone from a four-shot lead to four holes adrift in the space of three gory holes?Actually, I was saying that the kid would be back from this, that it may just have been the make-or-break experience he needed to project him towards being a major championship winner.
Many have been broken by coming so close only to falter and never gone on to win a major. Colin Montgomerie is the obvious European. Others like Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia and, most sadly given his talent, Lee Westwood are looking like emulating Monty as top players with a major block.
But as I wrote on here after Augusta: "You sense with McIlroy, though, that there is more to him and about him; that he does have it in him to recover from the experience and develop a mental toughness to go with the sparking talent on display through 54 holes."
And those perceptive chaps in the office at FanHouse duly put a headline on the piece that insisted: "Despite his final round collapse at Augusta, the future is still bright for Rory McIlroy."
Now, one of the mixed blessings of writing for FanHouse is the instant feedback you get from readers in the form of comments.
The pleasant comes through constructive opinion that sets you thinking and even makes you wish sometimes you had thought of that. For we do have on here some bright sparks who engage in that lifeblood of sport, the intelligent debate. I have even been corrected on here by readers and been grateful for it.
(One who accused me of lying - a journalist, he claimed, though didn't give his name - after a recent article when I said I had seen Seve Ballesteros win the 1988 Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes was plain wrong, however. A glimpse back to The Guardian sports pages the day after would reveal as much).
The occupational hazard of unpleasantness can also come in a few screamers, bless them. That day of my piece on McIlroy, one DJX007 wrote (though we will spare you the SHOUTY capital letters):
"The fact is young McIlroy can't cope with the pressure on the last day. His proven track record shows 3 good rounds then it falls apart. Only he knows why."
Then again, mrplumridge2 who also responded that day, can take a bow.
"He had a bad round of golf which all players experience once in a while. He probably will never have a bad round like that again and one thing's for sure: he will win majors. He is a rare talent and has a fantastic temperament."
As sports writers, we do get things wrong like DJX007 and can only admit it. Thus when we do get one right like mr plumridge2 (and I hope both he and our capital letter man will be back on today) it is especially enjoyable.
Not half as enjoyable, mind, as watching the Marvellous Mr McIlory win the US Open.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/06/20/rory-mcilroy-us-open-golf/
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