Evolving Leadership

We watched 25 year old, Rory McIlroy from Ireland win the PGA Championship this afternoon at the Valhalla Golf course in Lexington, KY.  Play was delayed for nearly an hour and a half with a heavy rain in early afternoon. It was McIlroy's third consecutive victory after winning the Open Championship and World Golf Invitational. The wet conditions may have had some effect on all the contenders, but it was a very tight leaderboard. Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson  each led at one time during the final round. Tiger Woods failed to make the cut after shooting 74 on both Thursday and Friday. Tiger had dropped out of the World Invitational a week ago with what appeared to be a back problem. The victory today gives McIlroy his 4th Major and trails only Tiger and Jack Nicklaus for having reached that level by age 25. The rise of Rory's golf prominence follows his break-up this spring with the tennis star to whom he was engaged. 

The decline of Tiger and emergence of Rory reminded me of Charles M. Russell painting, the "Exalted Ruler", which we have a copy of in our kitchen. It shows the ruling Bull Elk with his harem on top of the mountain. If you look closely, you can see the previous "ruler" on his way down the mountain. Likewise, there is already another potential ruler on his way up. This process is probably more absolute in the animal kingdom than in golf but is a reminder to all of us that someone is getting ready to take our place, if they haven't already.