As 22-year-old Rory McIlroy walked up the ninth fairway at Congressional Country Club with a nine-stroke lead in the U.S. Open, fans were anxious to connect with golf’s newest superstar.
“Good on ya, lad,” one fan yelled. “Rory for president,” bellowed another. “Marry me, Rory,” shrieked a teenager.
With nods, smiles and waves, McIlroy bashfully acknowledged as many as he could while tending to the business of capturing his first major championship.
Nine holes later there was no need to mask his joy. The U.S. Open was his. On Father’s Day, McIlroy spotted his dad, Gerry, inside the ropes, flashed him a fist and wiped away a tear.
After two-putting and completing his eight-stroke win over Jason Day, McIlroy bear-hugged his father and then defending champion and Northern Ireland countryman Graeme McDowell.
“You’re a legend,” McDowell said.
| LEADERBOARD |
| Final |
| Rory McIlroy … 65-66-68-69 — 268 … -16 |
| Jason Day … 71-72-65-68 — 276 … -8 |
| Kevin Chappell … 76-67-69-66 — 278 … -6 |
| Robert Garrigus … 70-70-68-70 — 278 … -6 |
| Lee Westwood … 75-68-65-70 — 278 … -6 |
| Y.E. Yang … 68-69-70-71 — 278 … -6 |
| Peter Hanson … 72-71-69-67 — 279 … -5 |
| Sergio Garcia … 69-71-69-70 — 279 … -5 |
| Charl Schwartzel … 68-74-72-66 — 280 … -4 |
| Louis Oosthuizen … 69-73-71-67 — 280 … -4 |
That statement may be premature, but there was no doubting the authenticity of his wire-to-wire dominance of America’s national championship. McIlroy shot a 16-under 268, the lowest score in the 111-year history of the Open and the lowest in relation to par, and he did it on the second-longest test in Open history, the 7,574-yard Blue Course.
It was reminiscent of Tiger Woods’ coming out party at the Masters in 1997, when he won by 12 strokes at age 21. Jack Nicklaus won the first of his record 18 majors at age 22. Only time will determine whether McIlroy is on the same career path.
“I’ve won one [major],” McIlroy said. “I obviously want to add to that tally.”
Going into the tournament, Jason Day would have been thrilled with an 8-under finish. Instead it wasn’t even close. McIlroy hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation (86 percent), the best figure in the Open since the U.S. Golf Association began keeping the stat.
“I was thinking that 4 under was going to win it,” Day said. “It’s just phenomenal golf. He lapped the field. Golf right now is in a really, really good spot where Rory is right now.”
There was little drama Sunday as McIlroy shot a stress-free, 2-under 69. He opened the final round with an eight-shot lead and expanded it on his first hole, where he hit a wedge to within five feet and made the birdie putt. At No. 4, McIlroy did the same — wedge to two feet — for another birdie as his lead swelled to double digits.
