The Extraordinary Promise of Rory McIlroy

When you've been anointed one of the world's next great sports stars, it's not impossible to meet expectations - but it's not easy. That's why all eyes in the golfing world are on Rory McIlroy right now, reports CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor.

From the start, his destiny seemed sealed. At age 2, a 40-yard drive on the golf course. He was hitting holes-in-one by 9. Played his first professional event at 16. Went pro at 17.

Now 20, McIlroy, from a small coastal village in Northern Ireland called Hollywood - if you can believe - is trying not to get swept up in the star machine.

"I know that I've got a long career ahead of me and I'm just trying to pace myself a little bit," McIlroy said.

McIlroy thinks that coming from a working-class background has helped him.

"It makes me appreciate what I have now," McIlroy said. "I know how hard I've worked and I know how hard my parents have worked."

To support their son's dream, McIlroy's mother worked night shifts at a factory. His father - two jobs as a bar manager.

"They wanted nothing out of it," McIlroy said. "I wanted to become the best golfer I could be, and they supported me every step of the way."

Then in January, a breakthrough first tour victory, and a place in the top 15 on golf's world rankings.

"I've dreamt about doing that for so long, and for that to become a reality, for my parents to be there and to witness that first hand was a pretty incredible feeling," McIlroy said.

Back home in Europe, Ireland especially, he is a huge celebrity. In the United States, not quite yet, despite enormous praise.

One fellow golfer said McIlroy's swing at 19 was better than Woods at that age. Tiger himself says he has all the components to be the best player in the world.

"It's arguably the best golf swing in golf right now, which is saying something and that includes Tiger Woods," said Jaime Diaz, a senior writer with Golf Digest and Golf World. "And that's not me talking - that's a lot of players talking."

But McIlroy isn't sure the comparisons to Tiger are fair.

"I don't know how good I'm going be in five or 10 years time," McIlroy said. "If I can win half the events that Tiger has, I'll be very happy."

Shy and reserved by nature, the only thing seemingly wild about McIlroy is his hair. He says that when he's not golfing, he's practicing.

McIlroy and his intentionally small circle of advisors have studied athletes who've done it right - and wrong.

"I think Rory, the way he talks, certainly knows he has a gift but he is not making that gift public," Diaz said. "He's keeping that gift as something that he manages and not others around him manage."

McIlroy's gift is apparent, from the first swing CBS News saw him take in person. It was almost a hole-in-one, which he took in stride, in keeping with the plan.

"I have to say to myself sometimes you know you're only 20," McIlroy said. "You've got a 30 year golf career ahead of you. You know you don't have to rush it."