For Rory McIlroy, this FedEx Cup win was about righting some wrongs
ATLANTA — As a lot as he later stated he loved being a part of and witness to historical past a yr in the past at East Lake Golf Membership, Rory McIlroy did not a lot relish that final-hole stroll. Followers speeding previous him. That chanting and singing and hollering for another person. The fleeting worry of being trampled.
It was a hole feeling, one made worse by figuring out McIlroy had removed from his finest stuff within the remaining spherical of the Tour Championship a yr in the past.
That was hardly the case on Sunday.
In one other high-intensity battle, this one with the reigning and certain repeating PGA Tour participant of the yr Brooks Koepka, it was McIlroy who prevailed, beating again all challengers, capturing the bottom 72-hole rating, and erasing all doubt about who’s the FedEx Cup champion.
He additionally had his personal final-hole coronation, not fairly on the identical degree because the one he noticed with Tiger Woods in 2018, however one which was fairly satisfying nonetheless.
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“I did not take pleasure in that stroll final yr like everybody else did,” McIlroy stated after capturing a final-round 66 on Sunday to win by 4 strokes over Xander Schauffele. “I performed terribly, I by no means took the battle to Tiger. Going up towards the No. 1 participant on the planet [in Koepka this year], he acquired one over on me in Memphis, and I needed to attempt to type of get some revenge.
“To play like that alongside Brooks and get the win, win the FedEx Cup, yeah, it is superior. It is superb how various things will be in a yr.”
So, too, is it superb to suppose how McIlroy’s yr would have been considered with out the victory on Sunday, which moved him to No. 2 on the planet behind Koepka.
He has performed 18 instances worldwide, received 3 times, and posted a complete of 9 top-five finishes.
That is a profession yr for many, however for McIlroy, 30, who has now gone 5 years since successful the fourth of his main championships, the lack to contend in any, plus the shortcomings in another occasions through which he was close to the lead, appeared to overshadow the success.
The missed lower in his native Northern Eire at Royal Portrush in The Open was a very harsh blow, however then there he was every week later within the remaining group on the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in Memphis, solely to be swept away in a final-round showdown that by no means materialized. Not often does ending tied for fourth really feel so unhealthy.
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“I believe it gave me just a bit bit further incentive,” McIlroy stated. “As soon as I noticed I used to be within the remaining group with Brooks, it simply took me again to Memphis a number of weeks in the past, and I felt I realized a number of classes that day. I needed to proper a number of the wrongs that I made that Sunday, and it was an excellent alternative to do it.”
McIlroy did not contend down the stretch within the first two FedEx Cup playoff occasions, however fared properly sufficient to enter the strokes-adjusted remaining occasion in fifth place, 5 strokes behind Justin Thomas. He then shot scores of 66-67-68-66 to win his second FedEx title, becoming a member of Woods as the one gamers to take action.
“He performed nice golf [on Sunday], just about mistake-free,” stated Koepka, whose three straight bogeys on the again 9 knocked him out of competition earlier than he tied for third with Thomas. “He was spectacular to observe. He put it within the fairway loads, hit a variety of greens. The up and down he made at 11, that was fairly tasty proper there. After which the best way he completed it off was spectacular.”
McIlroy and Koepka have seen an excellent little bit of one another in current months, and had been grouped typically of late attributable to their shut proximity within the FedEx Cup standings. At comparable ages, with the identical variety of main championships (4) however with wildly completely different backgrounds, maybe a burgeoning rivalry is growing.
It actually could be welcome, and each gamers welcome the problem.
“I take pleasure in competing towards Rory,” Koepka stated. “He is a tricky competitor. He grinds it out, man. Even if you’re taking part in with him, it is enjoyable to observe him. Hopefully it stays that means.”
McIlroy has had his struggles at instances, particularly on the greens, the place placing has typically held him again. However he was 11th in strokes gained placing for the week. Whereas that may not appear so nice in a 30-player discipline, his domination in different areas actually performed a task in his victory. The listing:
No. 1 in strokes gained off the tee
No. 1 in strokes gained tee to inexperienced
No. 2 in strokes gained across the inexperienced
That may assist you to win an excellent variety of tournaments.
On Sunday, he hit 11 greens in regulation — he hit 15 on Thursday — however made simply two bogeys, though they made what gave the impression to be a simple victory a bit extra tenuous earlier than placing it away with a clutch par-saving putt on the 16th after which a birdie on the 17th.
That made the stroll down the 18th fairway a candy one.
“Yeah, it was fairly cool,” he stated. “I turned to [caddie] Harry [Diamond] after we had been strolling down the hill after I might hit my second shot. I stated, this stroll is a bit more nice than final yr, not working away from a stampede.”
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Rory McIlroy cruises to a FedEx Cup victory, topping the runner-up by 4 strokes, and finishes his day with a birdie putt to clinch the win.
It was McIroy listening to the cheers and chants this time, a becoming finish to probably the most constant season of his profession, however with loads extra to attain.
Earlier within the week, McIloy was requested his views on the brand new FedEx Cup format, which noticed gamers begin with a rating in relation to par primarily based on their factors whole. He was starting 5 again, with an everyday event title not at stake, and expressed some well-thought reservations. He additionally needed to order judgement.
“Come again to me on Monday,” he stated.
No want, actually. McIlroy shot the bottom 72-hole rating, 267, 13 below par. He received for the third time this yr and earned probably the most world rating factors within the discipline. And, in fact, he pocketed the $15 million FedEx Cup bonus that goes to the winner.
It is exhausting to seek out fault with any of that.