Woods’ time fading into Rory days

It was 14 years ago here at Valhalla, a patch of rolling golf land in horse country, that Tiger Woods produced one of the most spectacular victories in his extraordinary career, beating Bob May in a spellbinding Sunday shootout to win the PGA Championship in extra holes.

Woods isn’t finished but he’s a brittle 38-year-old whose best years are likely behind him, while McIlroy is the game’s ascendant star, the only player since Woods capable of mesmerizing us.

He’s not Woods and admittedly doesn’t imagine himself winning major championships in such copious quantities as Tiger, but McIlroy plays the game with a similar paint-the-sky style.

When McIlroy won the Open Championship nearly three weeks ago, he became the third-youngest player to capture the first three legs of the Grand Slam and he reminded us of how good he can be.

Last weekend, McIlroy chased down Sergio Garcia in a World Golf Championship at Firestone in Akron, Ohio, meaning he’s beaten virtually all the best players in the world in consecutive starts.

While McIlroy was stopping to sign autographs for fans shrieking for his attention around Valhalla’s practice green late Wednesday morning, camera crews were on stakeout in the nearby players’ parking lot, eyeing an empty space with Woods’ name on it.

Woods’ arrival drew breaking news coverage in all the places news happens these days because, balky back and all, he’s still Tiger.

A hillside overlooking Valhalla’s first hole was jammed with thousands of spectators an hour before Woods began his practice round with Davis Love III and Steve Stricker.