by Jeff Skinner
Rory McIlroy’s back to back 66’s have given him a four stroke lead over Dustin Johnson at The Open Championship and positioned him well in his chase for his third major championship. If you think you have seen this act before you’re right. 
At Congressional in 2011 Rory had a six stroke lead at the end of the third round. He went on to win his first major championship by eight strokes.
At the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island Rory won by eight strokes again. But he didn’t take the lead until the end of the third round. He lead by three then went out Sunday and shot 66, that number again, and won by eight shots again.
There was talk of dominance and a new challenger to Jack Nicklaus’ record of eighteen majors. But Rory’s major chase has been sidetracked by a few things: equipment change, celebrity, management changes, lawsuits and s very public love life ended by a very public break up. But Rory says he’s more at ease on the golf course than anywhere else now. The first two days at Hoylake have been Exhibit A to prove that.
But it is not like Rory hasn’t had issues with holding a lead. At The 2011 Masters he had the lead after each of the first three rounds and went into Sunday with a four stroke lead. He imploded and struggled to a shocking 80. But bounced right back to win two months later at Congressional.
We don’t have to look too far back to see another similar situation. At Pinehurst at the U.S. Open just one month ago Martin Kaymer pulled his own version of hide and seek.
Kaymer toasted the field with consecutive 65’s over the first two rounds and had a six shot lead. He went on to win by eight shots, Rory’s lucky number, in a run away. But as Kaymer was working his magic over the brown turf of Pinehurst No.2 there were cries of how boring a tournament it was.
As if watching this brilliant golfer make shots no one else could wasn’t enough. “Drama, we need drama” was what the public screamed for. Even Johnny Miller remarked what a great tournament it would have been if Kaymer hadn’t showed up. I thought it was shameful.
But I don’t think there will be any cries for more drama if Rory goes on to lap this field. We’ll probably here how he’s back on Jack’s trail and how he’s the best golfer in the world.
I think the difference here is that McIlroy has lived a life in the media both on and off the course and Kaymer has not.
Rory is one of the most recognized golfers in the world and has lived his life embracing all the new media. We all know so much about Rory.
Martin on the other hand doesn’t Twitter or Instagram or live his life in front of anyone but himself. He did no “world tour” after his Open win. He chooses to live a quiet life in Germany, watch soccer and eat barbeque.
I am not saying either is better than the other. What I am saying that if Rory wins in a runaway it will be hailed as a great tournament. Where Martin’s win was simply called boring.
If Rory does withstand the pressure, the challengers and the weather to win by his lucky eight strokes again, no one will call it boring. It’s a shame that most couldn’t have seen the greatness in Martins’ win.
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