Rory McIlroy Poised to Win 2011 U.S. Open Golf Tournament, Breaking Records– Is He the Next Tiger Woods?

As play begins on this Father’s Day in the final round of the 2011 U.S. Open Golf Championship, the young phenom Rory McIlroy has a substantial 8 stroke lead. With his performance over the last three days, many are comparing the young 22 year old Irishman to Tiger Woods, who is out for the season with an injury.

Watch Video of the 2011 U.S. Open as Rory McIlroy breaks U.S. Open Records in Final Round
With Tiger out of the mix, recent tournaments have seen a variety of winners with no one really stepping up to become a dominant force from one week to the next. McIlroy’s performance at this year’s U.S. Open at Congressional golf course may change all that. But only if he can continue his amazing performance and not fall off at the end the way he did earlier this year at Augusta.

After falling to 12 under, from his record 13 under par on Saturday, McIlroy quickly recovered and finished the third round with a record 14 under par. The score gives the young man the best score after 54 holes in U.S. Open history, and the second best lead ever at 8 under par. This is second only to Tiger woods who won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in 2000.

McIlroy’s 54 hole score of 199 makes him the first player in U.S. Open history to finish day three under 200, after a record three days in the 60’s, moving into the final round today. Barring a major collapse, the tournament is his to win. “Everyone else is playing for second place,” said one player competing in the Open today.

As he tees off in the final pairing this afternoon, if he can maintain his level of play, Rory McIlroy will become the youngest player to win the U.S. Open Championship since Bobby Jones won the tournament in 1923.