When the clock ticks over to midnight on December 31st, as Auld Lang Syne rings out from the pubs and while people are hugging, kissing, and making soon to be broken promises of a New Year and a new me, few will be looking back on 2014 as fondly as Rory McIlroy.
Because, as if there was any doubting it, 2014 was the year Rory McIlroy proved he’s the man. The poster boy for golf’s new generation, the one to beat and quite simply, the best.
In 2006 at Hoylake Tiger Woods equalled the course record 270 as he romped to an 11th major. Eight years on and at the same course, golf's new superstar led from the front to card 271 over his four rounds and pick up his third major and his first Claret Jug at the age of 25.
Rory got off to a flyer on a low scoring first day, shooting a bogey-free 66 to see him lead the pack at six under, a shot clear of Matteo Manassero and two ahead of a group including Sergio Garcia, who would push McIlroy until Sunday night.
The second day, and Rory banished any fear he was to have a 'freaky Friday', a habit which saw him follow up brilliant opening salvos with not so stellar second rounds. He carded another 66 and he was in the clear, Dustin Johnson four shots off his lightning pace and a chasing pack a further two behind. Rory was electric.
And so too was the weather. A storm was approaching and the R&A announced the third round would be played off the first and 10th in threesomes. But while the bad weather didn't materialise until after the last putt had dropped, the Rory whirlwind continued to wreak havoc, and two eagles in the last three holes took him six clear of his old sparring partner Rickie Fowler who was on the charge.
On to Sunday and after dazzling for three days Rory showed he’s just as adept at battening down the hatches, digging in and grinding it out. The final day wasn’t the procession some were expecting when he rattled in an early birdie to move to seven in front.
The pack were in hot pursuit, snapping away at Rory and his bright pink sleeves. It was Sergio who came closest, mounting a Spanish inquisition enough to make things nervous.
Did Rory have enough to hold on? Of course he did. This wasn't the boy who melted when the US Masters was his to win, this was the man set to dominate golf for a generation.
A par five on the 18th saw Rory finish with a final round of 71, two clear of Sergio and Fowler. The galleries went berserk, and Rory ran over to his mum before getting his hands on that famous Claret Jug for the first, and certainly not the last, time.
Three down, one to go. Augusta, Rory’s coming for ya.
