It was supposed to be a coronation for Rory McIlroy. With a win in the WGC Match Play Championship on Sunday, the 22-year-old would ascend to No. 1 in the world golf rankings and — who knows — maybe hold it for the next decade.
After a parade of majorless pretenders in the top spot in the post-Tiger Woods era, McIlroy would be a worthy No. 1.
But after coming from 3 down in a brilliant and emotional performance against Lee Westwood in the semifinals on Sunday morning, McIlroy had nothing left in the championship round against Hunter Mahan. Playing the first 10 holes in 3-over par, McIlroy dug too big a hole and lost 2 and 1.
“I was so up for that match this morning,” McIlroy said. “No disrespect to Hunter and Mark [Wilson], but it was like a final to me.”
Here’s why the match meant so much. For years, Westwood, 38, was a mentor to McIlroy. Both were managed by Chubby Chandler. But after McIlroy’s meltdown at last year’s Masters, Westwood joined in on the criticism. In the offseason, McIlroy dropped Chandler as his agent.
“Rory doesn’t want to spend time with the people who manage me,” Westwood said Saturday. “And I don’t want to spend time with the people who manage Rory.”
McIlroy brought his best stuff to the Westwood match, playing 10 holes in 7-under par. By the time he got it in gear against Mahan, playing five straight holes on the back nine in 5 under, it was too late.
– Kevin Dunleavy
