Final Thoughts on the 2012 PGA Championship: Rory Mcilory becomes the world’s best player.

Maybe I should become a golf handicapper. After making Ernie Els one of my top 5 favorites to win the British Open, I had Rory Mcilory in my top 2 to win the PGA Championship despite some recent inconsistent play. Mcilory blew away the field at the PGA Championship by a record 8 shots.

It’s funny that barely over a year after winning the U.S Open critics were already starting to question whether Mcilory was really the heir apparent to Tiger Woods. Jeez he is only 23.  There are no more questions… Mcilory is the best golfer on the planet, and the baton passed this weekend in South Carolina.

• Continuing on the last thought for Woods… He got blown away on the weekend of a major… again. It’s clearly mental for him now. He gets in contention in a major, and he just doesn’t to have the ability anymore to close the deal, while Mcilory pushes on the gas the way Woods used to. Nicklaus’s record has never looked safer.
• I still think Woods will contend in majors and may possibly win another, Phil Mickelson on the other hand. Another major and another indifferent result with a T36 this week. For next season Mickelson will have to decide if he’s ready rededicate himself to golf, ala Ernie Els if wants to win another major.
• Quietly last year’s winner Keegan Bradley finished T3 after last week’s win. This young American appears ready to be an elite golfer for the long haul.
• Lee Westwood missed the cut… I don’t think that major is ever going to come for Westwood.
• Steve Stricker continues to be one of the most consistent American players out there. He ended up in 7th, and if there is an over 40 US player that can win a major, he might be a better choice than Mickelson next season
• Did we talk about Mcilory enough? The sky’s the limit on his career. It’s early, he’s very young, but he’s delivering on his great potential.
• That’s it for the golfing season. It ends for me at the PGA Championship. I know there’s the Ryder Cup and the Fed Ex, but it’s hard to pay much attention to those after the majors.