How important is the 2013 season for Rory McIlroy?
As the 2013 professional golf season is approaching, many golfers on the tour are gearing up to make their mark. One golfer who has a huge amount of weight to carry on his shoulders in the next season is Rory McIlroy.
The Northern Irish golfer is expected to maintain the same level of form that made him the player of the year in 2012.
The 2013 season of the Professional Golf Association Tour will commence from the first week of January, with The Hyundai Tournament of Champions to start off with the proceedings.
With the European Tour already underway and the PGA Tour about to start, all eyes are on the 17th of January, when Rory McIlroy will be seen alongside Tiger Woods, battling it out on the Abu Dhabi fairways.
Last year, the tournament was won by Robert Rock, who defeated the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy to lift the trophy.
Rory McIlroy came in second. Meanwhile, Woods shared the third place with Graeme McDowell and Thomas Bjorn.
McIlroy has had a memorable 2012 season on, both, the European and the PGA Tour. In the process, he won his second major championship – the PGA Championship.
Alongside, he secured the Vardon Trophy, topped the money list, won the Race to Dubai and was named PGA Player of the Year.
The question that lurks in the minds of most is if he will be able to match last year’s performance in the upcoming season.
For McIlroy to be placed amongst the legendary golfers, he will have to continue to record his name on top of numerous leaderboards for the next decade.
The 23-year-old is comparatively new to the fairways. Although he has achieved more at this age than most golfers would in their entire careers, he still has a long way to go in order to even be considered for a place next to the pioneers of golf.
There are golfers who show a glimmer of exceptional golf during their careers and surprisingly clinch a title or two.
Then there are players, who have their run of form and continuously pose a major threat to other golfers in any tournament they participate in.
Lastly, there are players who change the level of the sport by taking it to newer heights. Their presence defines the sport and the entire news related to the sport is about them. These players are called champions.
For now, all I can say about McIlroy is that, he is a winner. He has won more than just titles and awards during his previous season, but that does not make him a champion, it does not make him the best.
Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods are champions. These are the golfers who are irreplaceable.
McIlroy is just a recent phenomenon, and for the Northern Irishman to live up to what is expected from him, he will have to put up a similar or even a better show during the upcoming season.
There are many competent golfers on the tour to make life as difficult as possible or the 23-year-old. Not to mention the legend himself, Tiger Woods.
McIlroy had everything going his way in the previous season. Next season will be a test of his nerves and his talent. Time will tell if he comes up or falls short of recording similar results.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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