2012 Masters: Two prodigies from two generations

“Success depends almost entirely on how effectively you learn to manage the game’s two ultimate adversaries: the course and yourself.” – Jack Nicklaus

Probably the above quote from one of the greatest golfers to have graced the sport was a fitting summary of Mcllroy’s final round display at the Masters in 2011, which he later described as a point of unimaginable pain and depression in his life.

“I felt like crying at the 13th. Up to that point, even after what happened at the 10th, you are thinking [with the] 13th, 15th, 16th holes you have a lot of chances coming in. I was optimistic. But the 13th hole was the one that took all that away.” – Rory Mcllroy, after losing the lead and ultimately the 2011 Masters to Charles Schwartzel

It was one of those moments when the course introduces a phase of life as the ultimate hurdle, and no doubt Rory took some time to recuperate from that evening. Yet, a series of impeccable performances including his first major triumph at the US Open has shown the world that he’s on a gradual learning trail. It’s been a while since we have seen him fighting for a tour win. His record depicts an enigmatic urge to prove himself against the very best in the sport and there’s no better place than Augusta to test your mettle.

On the other hand we have Tiger Woods, rising from the ashes, all set to thwart Rory’s attempts on the course like he used to in his prime, when even his fiercest rivals could only watch and applaud his sheer dominance on the course.

Of course, he’s not promising anything anytime soon, considering that he’s just won a single title since his return to the tour. But his presence on the greens and those flashes of genius we’ve seen a week ago can assure his fans that he won’t go out without putting up a determined performance. He recently expressed that his game is coming together at the right time and his competitors would know that an average game of Woods can be enough to win a major.

Woods and Mcllroy- two prodigies of two different generations do have many things in common than many would believe. No, we’re not talking about their positional balance during their swings on the greens, but their unrivaled ability to read the situation during the game from an age where not many would give you a chance to win a round forget a major event. But then, not many have had such flair and a mentality to attack from the very first swing of the club, building on towards a perfect day of golf regardless of what the conditions are or what the rivals will come up with in those dicey stages.

We have seen so many intriguing duels at Georgia, and to think that we may be lucky enough to see another exciting battle come this Thursday just adds to what’s already a mega-event.

Two careers, though with different timelines have a common hunger to become the sole symbol of the game in the future. Moreover, the temptation to win that coveted trophy and the prospect of we witnessing another epic rivalry in golf just makes it more special. Not many times in sport we are able to rate two champions at different stages of their career measuring them on a same scale. However, an intersection of eras where a reinvigorated stalwart is challenging a new-age champion is a spectacle which can only take place in the world of golf.