PGA Championship
Valhalla Golf Club
Louisville, Kentucky
The golf season’s final professional major was anything but disappointing this year. The leaderboard was full of the biggest names in the business, all of whom were trading punches like heavyweight fighters. Nobody seemed to want to go down.
Rory McIlory came into the event as the newly crowned #1 golfer in the world an fress off of two consecutive victories in the Open Championship and the WGC Bridgestone Invitational. McIlroy started out where he left off at the Bridgestone, with a first round 65 and one shot off the lead. McIlory’s impressive ball striking kept him at or near the lead until the final round, where he brought in a one stroke advantage.
Most thought McIlroy would cruise to victory, but he made it interesting with some stagnant play and and two early bogeys on the 3rd and 6th holes. Soon he found himself two strokes behind the very hot playing Rickie Fowler and surging Phil Mickelson. 2103 FedEx Cup champion Henrik Stenson also tied for the lead late into the final round.
On the par-5 10th hole McIlory had to play a little more aggressively to make up the deficit. From 285 yards McIlory missed his shot and watched in disappointment. But the ball ran hard and right up the hill and released to a mere seven feet from the hole. He would make the putt for eagle, erasing the two early bogeys in one stroke.
Late bogeys would hurt Mickelson and Fowler’s chances, combined with two additional birdies for McIlory on holes 13 and 17. As darkness ascended due to play starting late because of early rain, McIlory brought a two shot lead into the final par-5 18th hole. Making par, even in darkness, was easy for McIlory, who drained a 14 inch par putt to capture his 2nd PGA Championship and 4th major championship at the age of 25.
Only two players have reached four major championships quicker than Rory McIlory: Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.
Rare air. Bright future.
