Rory can really roar on, off the course

HAVEN, Wisc. - On a leaderboard devoid of many household names, scroll down just a bit and one is sure to catch the eye.

Rory McIlroy.

The young phenom from Northern Ireland, who was one bad round (80) away from being a serious contender at the British Open - he finished third nonetheless - and the same guy who earlier this week proclaimed, "there's going to be a lot of guys here thinking that it's the right time for them to break through, and I'm definitely one of those guys," may just be one of those guys after all.

And though just 21, one look at the way he handled the media outside the clubhouse after his 4-under round Friday shows this guy can handle just about anything.

He bopped from the print media to the electronic, then back to the print and then on to television outlet after television outlet, all the while never losing his cool - very similar to the way he handled things after his disastrous second round at St. Andrews.

And that level of maturity has many thinking this kid can be the real deal for a real long time.

"To come back the way that I did on the weekend and shoot 7-under par, it gave me a lot of confidence," he said. "It wasn't the result I was looking for, obviously, but finishing third at St. Andrews was a big boost for me, and it made me realize that if I prepared properly and did the right things leading up to a tournament that I can give myself a really good chance."

He's got that chance now, sitting at 5 under in the PGA Championship, just 3 strokes behind leader Matt Kuchar.

"I feel like I'm in a really good position going into the weekend," said McIlroy, who earlier this year won the PGA event at Quail Hollow and is ranked eighth in the World Golf Rankings. "Yeah I like the position I'm in. It's a nice place to be."

McIlroy is there courtesy of the 68 he shot Friday in gray, windy, muggy conditions at Whistling Straits, a course he's not enamored with, to say the least.

"I wouldn't say I enjoy it, but it's something you have to deal with and sort of manage," McIlroy said. "It's what we have this week and I'm trying to make it my favorite course come Sunday.

"I realize there's still a long way to go and that it's going to be tough over the next two days, but I feel as though my game is in great shape. I'm in a strong position, a position where I can make a charge for the weekend."

Keep an eye on the leaderboard.