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Bethesda, Md. • Golf’s next great player is every mother’s son, a self-effacing and unaffected 22-year-old from Northern Ireland, who bounced down the fairways to win his first major championship Sunday with a smile, a shrug and an incomparable swing.

Not often does a dominator disarm the way Rory McIlroy did at Congressional Country Club, breaking U.S. Open records that were owned by Tiger Woods. When Padraig Harrington of Ireland said McIlroy would be the first one to break Jack Nicklaus’ major championship record of 18 — a record Woods, with 14, has coveted for years — McIlroy put his head down sheepishly. “Paddy, Paddy, Paddy, I’m trying to win my first,” he said.

McIlroy realizes he will be subject to inevitable comparisons to Woods. McIlroy has won three at age 22.

But golf needs a new young superstar.

U.S. Open golf winner would make more money playing in the PGA tour than in Europe. But even after historic U.S Open golf win, sponsorships and taxes complicate Rory McIlroy's decision.

It's a big money decision for McIlroy. Taxes play a big part. Not only would he have to pay taxes on his winnings in the United States if he played more events here, but he'd also have to pay taxes on his endorsement income.

Thanks to endorsements from Jumeirah, Titleist and Oakley, the Irish resident makes about $10 million in endorsement income. As endorsement cash started to trump winnings and prize money, tax authorities in the US and United Kingdom started to catch on.

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Last week, a US tax court said Goosen, who wasn't delinquent on any taxes at any point, might owe more to the US government.

The argument against McIlroy caring about the tax situation is the fact that he might be worth more in the United States playing against better talent than he is playing in Europe. There's more potential cash in the United States. The average PGA Tour tournament offers roughly $2 million more in purse money as compared to the European Tour.