This next 'Next Tiger' didn't disappoint in the big events

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Rory McIlroy easily made the cut in all four major championships in 2009.

What will you remember about the 2009 season? That was the simple question we asked PGATOUR.COM staffers and writers, who responded with a series of short essays. As we finish up November, we'll post several each day. Click here for next essay

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• Click here for more essays • What will you remember?

Everybody loves a sidekick.

When we see greatness in a sport, it is second nature to ask ourselves, "When will someone come along to challenge this person for greatness?" In golf, it's no different.

That's why we continue to search to find that one competitor on the PGA TOUR who will stand up to Tiger Woods and actually defeat him. And not just a one-time defeat, but something we can watch over and over in major tournaments like an Ali-Foreman type of heavyweight bout.

While Phil Mickelson appears ready to lock horns with Tiger in 2010, perhaps the long-range solution is Rory McIlroy, a 20-year-old Irish phenom who already has the weight of huge expectations placed on his shoulders.

McIlroy has already made quite an impression on the European Tour, raking in more than $5.2 million in 2009 and finishing second in the Race to Dubai standings to Lee Westwood.

But can he make the leap to the PGA TOUR -- he has announced his intention to become a TOUR member in 2010 -- and sustain his success with so much riding on his early years?

I seem to think he can, and his 2009 season had to be everything we could ask for. McIlroy didn't flinch in some of the biggest tournaments in golf, rising to three top-20 finishes in the four majors.

We watched him grow up at the Masters. Shaving points off his score as the weekend progressed, McIlroy finished at 2 under for the tournament, good enough to tie for 20th place.

Then, at the U.S. Open, the young buck had his first round in the 60s in a major -- a 68 in the final round -- to finish tied for 10th. At that point, it became clear that this would be one of the most special stories of the season, regardless of his play at the final two majors.

Dubbed "the most exciting young player in the world" by Gary Player, McIlroy stood toe-to-toe with the best golfers in the world and didn't back down.

As 2009 progressed, McIlroy moved past a missed cut at THE PLAYERS Championship and made the weekend in each of his final five tournaments.

Oh, and each of those five tournaments were either a major or a World Golf Championships event.

At the PGA Championship in August, McIlroy had his best 72-hole score yet -- a 3-under 285 to finish in a tie for third place at Hazeltine. We should all have been so lucky to sign that card at 20 years old.

Asked if he could improve on his success in his first four majors as he moved into 2010, McIlroy replied, "I hope so. My results have been pretty good."

For good measure, McIlroy ventured into Shanghai early in November to take part in the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and finished in fourth place, topping names like fellow young phenom Ryo Ishikawa, Westwood, and some guy named Tiger. There could be no more fitting way to finish the young man's rookie season.

This is going to be a player whom we will watch rise to the top of professional golf, and years from now, we will look back on Rory's 2009 season as the beginning of a trend.

So let's raise a glass to Rory's success -- even if he isn't old enough to join us just yet.

Sean Breslin, a producer for PGATOUR.COM, looks even younger in person than McIlroy does.