Those in and around the Rory McIlroy camp talk of the “third act” of his career, and as the Northern Irishman sets out on his 18th season as a professional it is now possible to envisage the story one day coming of age.
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RoryMcIlroyhasnotwonamajorchampionshipsincethe2014USPGAChampionshipThoseinandaroundtheRoryMcIlroycamptalkofthe“thirdact”ofhiscareer,andastheNorthernIrishmansetsoutonhis18thseasonasaprofessionalitisnowpossibletoenvisagethestoryonedaycomingofage.
Thefirstactsawtheprodigybecomingtheprotagonistashetransformedallofthatpotentialandthosewhispersintohistoricsubstance.McIlroybecametheyoungestEuropeantowinfourmajorsandalongwithJackNicklausandTigerWoods,oneofthreeplayersinthemoderneratoachievethequartetbeforeheturned25.“Roryhastheopportunitytowin15or20majors,”Nicklausdeclared.
Inthesecondact,thecharacterdevelopedandhethrilledhisaudiencewiththevulnerabilityheoriginallydisplayedwhenbreakingdownintearsfollowingan80inthefinalroundoftheMasterswithaGreenJacketinhisgrasp.Hehadovercomethisadversitybeforeandthere