Rory McIlroy won another major, earning an eight stroke victory in the PGA Championship. (Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-US PRESSWIRE)
Rory McIlroy is trying to get back on top and prove he’s still the world’s best golfer. He took a stride towards that by channeling his U.S. Open win in 2011 and set a record for margin of victory on his way to yet another major, winning the PGA Championship.
McIlroy led for the majority of the weekend and ended up winning by and eight stroke difference over David Lynn. The previous record was held by Jack Nicklaus, who won at Oak Hill in 1980 by seven strokes.
“I don’t think I’ve let it sunk in yet. … I’m speechless,” McIlroy said at the trophy ceremony. “I played solid the whole way through the week. … I thought my putting today was phenomenal.”
McIlroy went bogey-free in the final round, something that hasn’t been done since Phil Mickelson’s Masters win in 2010.
The weekend didn’t go so well for Tiger Woods who finished 2-under and tied for eleventh. Woods entered the weekend tied for the lead but quickly fell down the leaderboard.
“Today was different (with the end of the third round being played in the morning and all of the fourth). Yesterday, I think I came out with the wrong attitude, too relaxed, just coming out to enjoy it,” said Woods. “That’s not the way I am. I’m pretty intense, and I wasn’t that way, and it cost me.”
Woods showed his frustration this morning when he flung his club after his drive on the par-4 15th hole. Woods followed it up with a nice shot on to the green but he couldn’t rise on the leaderboard. But when speaking after the final round, Woods sounded optimistic about his game.
“Overall, I’m very pleased with the way things are headed. It’s just making little fine-tunements.”
McIlroy ruled the day however, winning the first tournament he finished above 40th in this year. McIlroy wasn’t over powering in his game but he was consistent and failed to make any major mistakes in the final round, which proved to be the difference. Ian Poulter started the day as a leader but he stumbled with minor errors. These were errors McIlroy didn’t make and he showed yet again that he can simply outlast the competition and play mistake free golf.
If McIlroy can continue to channel these kinds of performances, he will quickly rise up the world rankings and take over Luke Donald as the world’s No. 1 ranked golfer.
