So Rory’s an Augusta lock?

‘When we arrive at the 2015 Masters, it will not be about Woods halting his losing ways; it will be about McIlroy starting his winning habit.’

It’s difficult to consider Rory McIlroy and the pro golf world in terms other than this: His time, his stage. After all, we are only a few months removed from the young man’s furious blitz to put a stranglehold on the No. 1 ranking — raising the Claret Jug at Hoylake, winning in the dark to claim a second PGA Championship, prevailing for a second time as king of the European Tour — so it appears coherent enough to expect a seamless continuation in 2015.

With the mere mention of a new golf season, it’s likely that visions of magnolias and azaleas come to mind. After all, nothing ignites anticipation for golf during these dreary winter days as thinking about Augusta National and the vaunted Masters. All of which leads us to the slice of the McIlroy story that is at the forefront. But before one starts thinking that he’s a lock to complete the career Grand Slam in four months time, step back a moment and consider that 2015 will be the 10th anniversary of Tiger Woods’ 2005 victory.