New kid on block gives Tiger a lesson in class

EVEN at Bruntsfield Links, where the majority of the members are not exactly in the first flush of youth, he was the talk of the steamie.

As befits such a club, they took a polite interest in the Open Championship regional qualifier being staged at the Edinburgh venue for the first time. The man at the centre of every conversation, though, wasn't involved in the Sandwich scramble. McIlroy mania had descended on this leafy corner of Davidson's Mains.

It was well into the afternoon before the word 'Wimbledon' was even mentioned and longer still before the widescreen television in the clubhouse was switched on so that someone could see a bit of the first day's action from SW19.

Even then, it wasn't long before the channel had been changed to Sky Sports 2 for the last-round re-run from Congressional.

Around every corner the talk was about McIlroy, not Murray. Tales were being recounted of an appearance in the R&A's Junior Open at Royal Musselburgh, by which stage he'd already been tipped for the top.

The majority, though, simply marvelled at his brilliance over the previous four days of golf. But not just the breathtaking display the young Ulsterman produced to send the golfing historians into a frenzy as they had to rewrite a whole host of records.

The way Rory McIlroy went about his business to become the youngest US Open champion since Bobby Jones in 1923 was just as big a talking point.

Comparisons are already being made between McIlroy's weekend win and Tiger Woods romping to a 15-shot success in the second major of the season at Pebble Beach in 2000. Some are saying that the latter was more impressive because Congressional was "defenceless" due to the bounce having been taken out of the course by pre-event rain.

That matter will be debated for a long time to come but one thing is for certain. Even at the age of 22, McIlroy can teach Woods a thing or two about how a superstar, established or one in the making, should conduct themselves.

All the way through his extraordinary performance, he oozed class, none more so than soon after the demolition job had been finished and one of golf's most prized possessions had been handed over to him.

As McIlroy moved back alongside runner-up Jason Day, he turned to Patrick Cantley, the leading amateur, standing on his other side. "What did you score?" he mouthed before making an expression that clearly showed he was impressed with the young American finishing on level-par.

Far too often over the years Woods has failed to show that sort of class.

The only disappointing aspect about the reaction to McIlroy's success is that a lot of it has been well over the top. His winning putt hadn't even dropped when people were talking about him, not Woods, being the man to beat Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 majors.

Give the man a break.He's got that monkey off his back by winning the first one but don't expect Rory to go out time and time again over the next few years and repeat what he just did. Yes, he'll go on and win a few more. He'll become world No 1 as well before too long.

But let's not burden the young man with a weight on his shoulders that is unrealistic, especially at a time when there are so many outstanding players in the game who will take their share of major titles too.