THAT WAS AS close to a perfect golf tournament you’re likely to see.

What we saw this weekend will undoubtedly be used as a point of reference and a barometer to all future Major performances, just like comparisons were made between Rory McIlroy’s US Open victory and that of Tiger Woods in Pebble Beach in 2000.

The first round was flawless, bogey-free and provided the platform for the coming three days. To shoot six under par is unprecedented, as is to have an opening round in a US Open without a bogey.

Friday’s second round was the same, apart from a blip on the final hole. But by that stage, the records books were already being rewritten, the stand-out one being reaching 13 under par, the lowest score ever achieved in a US Open.

The weekend was a procession. Such was the standard of Rory McIlroy’s golf, it would have taken an extraordinary turn of events for him not to win. It wasn’t at all like the US Masters, when Rory blew what was a four-shot lead going into the final round.

This was on another level. First of all, the lead was far greater, it was eight shots. There was also the fact that nobody ahead of him made a significant move on the front nine. At the US Masters, the was a chasing pack of up to 10 players, one of whom was Tiger Woods. He played the front nine in 31 strokes, including an eagle on the eighth, which had the crowd going wild and commentators thinking about potentially the greatest comeback in golfing history.

That scenario wasn’t to be, but it must certainly have played on Rory McIlroy’s mind. As he struggled to find his top form on the front nine on that day, the roars of the crowd going up around him for other players and the knowledge that the chasing pack had their prey in sight must surely have played on McIlroy’s mind.

The weekend past was all about the Northern Irishman. The fans stood in ovation and applause on almost every hole from one to 18. McIlroy stuck to his game plan – he found fairways with regularity and attacked when the time was right.

He also showed great maturity. One moment in particular stands out – the third hole on Saturday. Having driven into trees on the right of the hole, McIlroy took no risk, rather chipped back out into the fairway and backed his short game to get the ball up and down for a par. There was no risk involved. Even if he made a bogey it wouldn’t have been the end of the world, but he was guaranteeing himself a chance of a par and, as he did on so many occasions over the four days, he converted it.

It’s fascinating to wonder where McIlroy goes from here. Natrually, the Tiger Woods comparisons have started already, but Rory is a different person and a different golfer entirely. There is no doubt he will win more Majors, probably many more.

He is arguably the best striker of the ball in the game, as was perfectly illustrated this weekend. The consistency with which he hit the fairway from the tee was of the highest standard, but that doesn’t automatically lead to birdies. His iron play lead to this. The amount of birdies he made from close range was remarkable. He attacked the flagstick and the majority of his iron shots finished well within birdie range, some even lead to tap-ins like on the par-3 10th hole on Sunday.

When a players is hitting the ball so close to the pin, it takes the pressure off the putting somewhat. Instead of having to hole 20 or 30-footers, he was making 8 or 10-footers which.

‘If that’s the only thing McIlroy needs to work on, then he’s probably doing okay’

Putting was an aspect of Rory’s game which let him down greatly in his final round at the Masters but he proved this weekend that he can putt well. It also helps when you have an eight shot lead. You know that if you miss one it’s not the end of the world and when you’re not afraid of missing it inevitably leads to making it.

Butch Harmon on Sky Sports spoke about another potential weakness in McIlroy’s game, his short shots. He believes that Rory is one of the best around with a full swing, but expressed concerns about when he making a three-quarter swing or a half swing.

If that’s the only thing McIlroy needs to work on, then he’s probably doing okay. After all, there’s no such thing as a perfect golf game.

He now moves on and will have to cope with the pressure of favouritism and the attention that surrounds a being a Major Champion. It took him a few attempts to learn how to win his first Major, and it may well take a few more attempts to win his second, but there is no doubt that this guy can set the bar as high as he wants.

He will be a multiple Major champion.