Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is two days shy of being able to celebrate with a beer, at least in America. But his final-round performance at Quail Hollow deserves a toast. Firing a back nine 30 on his way to a course-record 10-under-par 62, McIlroy blew past the last two Masters champions – Phil Mickelson and Angel Cabrera – to win for the first time on the PGA Tour.
The last player this young to win on the PGA Tour was Tiger Woods, also age 20, at the Disney Classic in 1996. McIlroy’s showing, ironically, comes in a tournament where Woods failed to make the cut.
It was a Tiger-like performance indeed as McIlroy used his outlandish length to play the final five holes in 5-under par. At No. 15, a par 5, he hit a 5-iron 208 yards uphill to within three feet and made the eagle putt. At No. 18, he hit a 7-iron from 203 yards out, and then drained a 40-foot birdie putt.
If a 50-footer at No. 17 had dropped instead of lipping out, McIlroy would have shot a 29 on the back and bettered the course record by three strokes. McIlroy made two birdies on the last five holes from sand. He made 3 on each of his last six holes.
Halfway around the world, 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa shot a final-round 58 to win for the seventh time in Japan.
So who needs Tiger?
Well, at least for one day, that sentiment applies.
