The real deal

Reality doesn't usually match up with the hype surrounding teen golf prodigies, but Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy (like Tiger Woods before him) seems to be an exception.

McIlroy, 19, made the cut in the Verizon Heritage, his sixth tournament in the U.S. this year. He has made the cut in the four tournaments he played that have a cut and in five previous starts has not finished worse than a tie for 20th, which he has done twice -- in the WGC-CA Championship and the Masters. He also tied for fifth in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

He hasn't contended on Sunday yet (at least in the U.S.), but give him time, and at that, he probably won't need much time. It seems imminent.

-- John Strege