Many times the pair of words "what if" crawls into the minds of greedy sports fans. Together they generally open up a slew of unrealistic fantasies. However, when used in realistic context, "what if" can provide some of the most stimulating conversation starters.

What if Clay Matthews hadn't chased down Kevin Kolb and sent him on his way to concussion tests and a backup role behind the newly unproven ex-con Michael Vick? What if LeBron James decided to take his talents elsewhere, like to Chicago, to accentuate Derrick Rose? What if the NFLPA and team owners were not able to come to grips with their wants and needs in time for the entertainment starved fans? Wouldn't sports be different?

The past year in professional golf is no different, and the question of "what if?" relates to one man, Rory McIlroy. This curly-haired kid from Northern Ireland that rocks a Jumeirah sponsorship all over the golf course was in the spotlight all year long and rightfully so; the guy has game. He hammers 300-yard drives with effortless ease and sports one of the prettiest swings in the lucrative business.

He jumped onto the scene this April dominating the Masters through three rounds of play. The freckled smile that charmed golf fans for three days turned into a red-faced frown with his book full of bogeys on the back nine.

Without his abominable collapse, Rory goes on to smile for weeks while Charles Schwartzel waits even longer for his first major victory. The hangover from Rory's first major victory would have likely lasted until the practice rounds of the US Open, the major McIlroy actually won.

He put up a fight with Augusta National Golf Club during the Masters, and eventually, the course won. The Congressional Country Club from Bethesda, Maryland, quickly failed as his next challenger. Rory dominated, and no other word does his performance justice. Starting with an opening round 65, Rory signed every card with a score in the 60's.

After setting US Open records and drawing comparisons to Tiger Woods' magical performance in 2000, golfers, analysts and fans alike were left wondering "what if" Rory would have finished what he started in early April. That would leave him halfway home on his trek to singlehandedly rule the game of golf in 2011.

McIlroy would have been the hottest and most feared golfer in the world. There would be no talk about the potential of Martin Kaymer, the impeccable short game of Phil Mickelson, or the uncanny consistency of Lee Westwood.

More importantly, there would be no discussion of the former greatness displayed year in and year out by that fella named Tiger. That discussion would instead be focused on the mammoth drives bound for the fairway and the 15-foot putts being holed out with regularity by the 22-year-old McIlroy.

As soon as Darren Clarke wins the 2011 British Open, golf fans everywhere would have began to question what is in the water up there in Northern Ireland. After all, that country lays claim to three of the last six major championships. Rory could have certainly made that four of six, cementing Northern Ireland in golf history.

Even further stipulation arose when McIlroy hurt his wrist during the first round of the PGA Championship. He injured his wrist when he mistakenly struck a tree root near his ball on the third hole of the championship. Rory went on to struggle with the injury throughout ensuing rounds. He didn't quit, however, but continued simply 'because it was a major'.

It's clear to see what this kid is after; majors, and lots of them. The conversation of multiple major victories has known few names over the past decade, and it finally knows another.

His next opportunity will be at Augusta National again, during the Masters. Will he be able to do it, and don the green jacket? 'What if' he does?

I remember when Lost started on ABC in 2004. I was immediately hooked, as a lot of people were. The island, the story, the characterization, Evangeline Lilly--you could tell it was going to be a special show.

Season two was fantastic; they opened the hatch and introduced the characters from the tail section. Following this was a strong season three, and as an audience we felt we were a part of something important. But before we even knew it, by season four, we were tuning in and watching one of the most horrible pieces of garbage to ever grace a television screen. Time travel? Alternate universes? What were these writers thinking? Did they have any idea what their identity was as a show anymore? What started out as an amazing journey for the viewer turned into a gigantic disappointment that spiraled down to a conclusion which made The Sopranos team think "You know what, we did a pretty good job after all."

Sitting here days before The Masters, I can't help but relate Tiger Woods' career to one of these television shows that inexplicably collapses in front of our very eyes. We all know Tiger has been lost, but has he become Lost?

As a Tiger fan, this would be a tough thing to admit. I was eight years old when he won his first major, The Masters, in 1997, and from then on, that was it. Hee was our guy, accumulating a barrage of Major victories and establishing himself as one of the most dominant athletes of all time. When he won we high fived, when he lost we threw remotes. I didn't so much grow up watching golf as I did watching Tiger Woods.

So, to believe that his career is over wouldn't just be the end to a fandom that has lasted the better part of my life, but would severely decrease my interest in professional golf. Am I really going to get excited for Dustin Johnson to blow 25 shot leads Sunday after Sunday, or see Bubba Watson cry after winning the Travelers Championship that nobody's watching? No, golf needs Tiger. There's simply no denying the excitement he brings to the game.

This a man who won an 18-hole playoff in the 2008 US Open on a broken leg, the 2006 British Open using just irons, who at 21 was the youngest person ever to win The Masters (and he did it by 12 strokes). I'm not going to say that if it wasn't for Tiger I wouldn't be an avid golfer myself, but I couldn't honestly say that about a significant portion of my generation.

I'm not conceding just yet that Tiger is done, because I don't think he is. As anyone who's ever swung a golf club before understands, this is a mental game, and right now, he just doesn't have it. Tiger needs to shed the submissive attitude he's assumed since the incident and get back to the person he really is.

People go crazy and write 2,000 word columns now when he curses after a bad shot, or spits on a green, and Tiger comes groveling back to the media with prepared apologies, delivered through visibly fake smiles. How quickly we forget this is the reason why we liked him in the first place. We like the fire. It's what has separated Tiger from the field for the past 16 years. It's like if Kevin Garnett helped LeBron James up on the basketball court--it doesn't look right. I don't want to root for someone who celebrates with a subdued cap tip after nailing an unbelievable shot. Golf is an emotional game, and the second Tiger started to suppress his emotions on the course in an attempt to mold himself into the image the media has demanded, his game hit the serious decline. He used to thrive on adrenaline, but now he looks like he's playing chess.

From a golf standpoint, there have been glimpses of the old Tiger. He's put together strong rounds, but winning a tournament requires four straight days of solid play, and we haven't seen that from him in three years. The skill is there, but unless he stops thinking about his public image and starts concentrating on golf, we could be seeing yet another devastating collapse in the sitcom of life.

But this is Augusta, the place where it all began for Tiger's career, and it'd only be fitting for him to have his rebirth here as well. I think back to this tweet when he was asked about his plans for the 2011 season, and he responded with "As Al Davis said 'Just win baby.'" All right, Tiger. Let's see it.