The start of the golf season has become so blurred here in the states. With the PGA Tour instituting its wraparound season their season starts in November. Traditionally the 2015 season started with the calendar in January at the Tournament of Champions. For years we’ve heard “the season starts with The Masters.” Oh it’s so very confusing.
But to me the season starts when the big boys come out and play. And make no mistake; Rory McIlroy is golf’s “big boy.”
McIlroy makes his PGA Tour season debut today at The Honda Classic and with it comes the expectations of the entire golf world. 
High expectations come with being the number one golfer in the world. McIlroy reached the top spot again with his miraculous run last summer with three straight wins at the PGA, WGC and the Open.
Immediately after his win at Hoylake the talk turned to The Masters where McIlroy will be vying for the career grand slam. When you’re number one the expectations are indeed higher. But when you’re the most alpha of the alpha dogs you’re expected to win every tournament.
When Tiger Woods ruled the golf world each week he was the favorite, especially at the majors. Woods was everyone’s pick each and every week he teed it up. Now, it’s Rory’s turn.
With the demise of the greatest player of the day Woods is no longer a factor. He’s more of a sideshow now.
Phil Mickelson, still one of the most popular players in the game has yet to prove he can find the magic that won him his five major championships.
It would have been exciting if Rory, Tiger and Phil had been involved in a major championship with the three of them doing battle as Rory ascended to the best player in the game. A glorious passing of the baton from Woods to McIlroy would have been exciting. But that ship has sailed.
Woods didn’t pass the baton to McIlroy. He dropped it, dropped it long ago, tripped over it and landed with a loud thud. With his game in shambles and his desire now being questioned Woods has gone from leader of the pack to a freak show living on the periphery of the game.
McIlroy on the other hand has evolved into the face of golf.
We all reveled in the fresh faced, shaggy haired kid that came onto the scene heralded as the “Celtic Tiger.” In the past year McIlroy has grown, matured and lived through some events that certainly tested the 25 year old.
After living a high profile romance for years he broke up with his fiancé. After changing management companies he then left them to start his own which resulted in a massive lawsuit.
The Rory we first got to know was always positive, smiling and open with all who had a chance to speak with him. Now, while still positive and honest he is more measured with the press. He has yet to post any picture of his new love interest and has settled the lawsuit.
Yes, he paid 20 million to his old managers, yes he guards his romantic life and yes since his break up he has been focused on his professional life. All that said McIlroy is a different man from that 22 year old who won his first major at Congressional.
Back then he was the up and comer, the player to finally challenge Woods. Now, to put it simply, Rory is the man.
Rory is the alpha dog, the big guy, the superstar, the stud, the Turk, the face of golf. And a more mature McIlroy welcomes it.
“I want to be that guy,” he says. “I feel like I handle the position I’m in a lot better than I did a couple of years ago,” he said. “I’ve got more experience at it. I’ve spent well over a year of my career at World No. 1, so I’m pretty used to it by now.”
“I guess the hardest thing is being motivated enough to stay in the position that you’re in, resetting goals all the time and keep trying to set the bar higher,” McIlory said. “I don’t feel any of the external pressure, really, but it’s the pressure that I put on myself to play to the best of my ability and motivating myself to go out and practice every day and work hard to try and get better.”
McIlroy will do well to avoid feeling the external pressure but there is no player in the game that carries more expectations.
He’ll be the favorite at every tournament and he’s already said he is thinking about the career slam at April’s Masters. And if he does win there he’ll be facing the Rory-Slam at the U.S. Open in June. And with that comes more expectations and more pressure.
That’s what being the best player in the game brings. That’s what being the alpha dog means. That’s what being the man is.
Rory McIlroy is the man.
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