Saturday morning as I indulged in my weekly routine plowing though a massive amounts of cereal and checking out some the season's newest TV shows - seriously, I've seen two episodes of "Love Bites" now and still have no idea who that show is about - I began to ponder the big question facing the sports world this weekend.

Can Rory plug a Tiger-shaped hole?
Friday the 22-year-old Rory McIlroy finished his second round leading the U.S. Open field at 11-under 131, the lowest score in the 111-year history of the Open. This has the golf folks reminiscing over Tiger Woods' 2000 Pebble Beach performance, where Tiger eventually owned the field by 15 strokes.

Of course Tiger did more than just destroy the competition. He brought people to the game who normally could have cared less. He became a household name and was the guy your mom would stop by the TVs at Wal-Mart to catch a glimpse of. He's the reason Nike golf balls exist.

So with Tiger currently on the shelf - and even when he's not, he's a shadow of his old self - the question is obvious; Can Rory fill the giant gap left by the absence of Tiger Mania?

Tricky question. The Irishman is young, has cool hair, and maintains a cheerful disposition. All positives and all aspects that make him very marketable. Oh and by the way, he's dang good at golf.

I wonder though, is Rory Irish enough? Is he maxing out this marketing potential?

Listen to him talk. Is he really using that Irish accent to its full capacity?

Watch him play. Is he sporting green, a flat cap, or chewing on a pipe between holes?

Check to see what he's drinking. Is that JUST water?

If Rory wants to really steal the hearts of America he needs to go all out motherland. Drop some Irish slang, rock an emerald shirt, and mix in flask.

Heck he should even drop a line to General Mills and see if he can get a sweet Lucky Charms endorsement, maybe do a cover shot for them and start a tradition of chucking marshmallows to the fans at the final green. Tiger had a lot going for him, but never that despite the obvious connect between him and Frosted Flakes. It would be money.

America loves Irish stuff, so if he plays this card strong and maybe, just maybe, Rory can fill that giant gap and usher the golf world into the post-Tiger era.

Oh, and of course him continuing to absolutely demolish the field won't hurt either.