What's wrong with Tiger? Is he ever going to win another major? Can he beat Rory McIlroy?

These are only a few of the questions that have intensified over the past month as McIlroy has won three of his past four events on the PGA Tour, showing the kind of dominance seemingly once reserved only for Tiger.

There is good reason for anxiety. At 23, McIlroy is the same age as Tiger Woods was when he began his long reign at the top of the game. McIlroy is mature well beyond his years. There is no wasted youth on him. He is supremely confident without being arrogant and prickly. If he stays healthy, there is no reason why with his flawless swing, evolving short game and equanimity that he can't be the best of his generation, if not one of the best of all time.

Meanwhile, Tiger needs five more majors to break Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major wins. Reaching that milestone would complete the arc on one of the most exciting careers in sports history. After almost three years without an official tour win, Tiger has three victories in 2012.

With 74 career wins, he is inching his way closer to Sam Snead's tour-best 82 victories. At the Deutsche Bank Championship, he went over $100 million in career tour earnings.

In every sport, the greats mark their time by the milestones they reach, especially as they grow older. An athlete knows when the shadows are lengthening on a career when the records begin to pile, and discussions become more about them reaching some statistical milestone than the results of the next game or tournament.

Rory and Tiger are on intersecting paths. Can they both have their way? Their windows of opportunity are about the same. For both of them these next five to seven years could define their careers. By then if Tiger, 36, hasn't won five more majors, it's not likely that he's going to get it done in his mid-40s, despite his stellar physical fitness.

For now it's likely that McIlroy will be the main man standing in the way of Tiger reaching Jack's record. Sure, Rory won't win every major over the next several years, but he certainly should win his share. In the end, McIlroy could be remembered as the man who stopped Tiger from breaking one of sport's most heralded records.