McIlroy can surpass Nicklaus: Norman

Updated December 13, 2012 09:44:47

Former world number one Greg Norman believes Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy than Tiger Woods of surpassing Jack Nicklaus as golf's greatest major winner.

It was a statement as big as "Jeff" - the 20 metre long, 8.5 metre tall dinosaur casting a shadow between the Coolum resort's ninth green and 10th tee.

Speaking ahead of a rare appearance in the Australian PGA Championship this week, Norman said McIlroy could be "as big as he wanted to be".

"I think if anybody can break Nicklaus's record (18 majors), I think he could, because he is young, he is ahead of the game, he is ahead of the curve on a lot of things," said Norman.

Tiger Woods with his 14 major victories appears the logical player to surpass Nicklaus, if anyone does.

But Norman was clearly on the McIlroy bandwagon declaring the 23 year-old, who has won 12 less majors than Woods, a better prospect to catch Nicklaus.

"I don't think so," was his blunt reply when asked if the 36 year-old Woods would overtake Nicklaus for the most majors won.

"Every year that passes by that he (Woods) hasn't won a major it just gets that much harder to win a major," said Norman.

"I don't care how many you have won, it just becomes a little bit more difficult, so he might have a shot at winning; he might win one or two more but I don't think he will win the four or five more that he needs to win to break the record."

Norman, 57, rarely plays these days with his many global business affairs taking up most of his time.

Asked what would be a good week at Coolum he said: "To do a Peter Senior".

Senior, 53, will be trying to complete the double this weekend after winning the Australian Open at The Lakes in brutally tough conditions last weekend.

The last time Senior won the Australian Open he also won the PGA and, despite his age, he sees no reason he shouldn't be among the frontrunners again.

"I probably chipped as well as I ever have (last week)," Senior told Grandstand

Hopefully the way I'm playing and the I way I've been putting the last few weeks I'll have a chance this week.

AAP/ABC

Tags: sport, golf, coolum-beach-4573, qld, australia

First posted December 13, 2012 00:24:47

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McIlroy named PGA Player of the Year

Updated December 05, 2012 07:19:58

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy has been named PGA Tour Player of the Year, capping an outstanding season for the world number one.

As expected, the 23-year-old was the popular choice for the annual Jack Nicklaus Award, decided by a vote from eligible tour players, becoming the youngest recipient since Tiger Woods in 1998.

McIlroy won four PGA Tour titles this year, including the PGA Championship by a record eight strokes. Nicklaus held the previous record margin for the last major on the golfing calendar, winning the 1980 PGA Championship by seven shots.

"It's always nice to get recognition from your peers, the guys that you're trying to beat week in, week out," McIlroy said.

"I guess it's just a great way to end what has been a great year and my best season so far."

McIlroy also won the Honda Classic, Deutsche Bank Championship and BMW Championship and the Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average.

He also won the money lists for the PGA and European Tours, making his selection a virtual formality on a final ballot that included Jason Dufner, Brandt Snedeker, Bubba Watson and Woods.

"It's no surprise that Rory McIlroy was voted by the players and his peers as the best Player of the Year," PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said.

John Huh won the rookie of the year award after becoming the youngest player in more than a decade to qualify for the Tour Championship.

Huh, 22, broke through for his first win at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in February, enduring an eight-hole playoff with Robert Allenby.

The youngest player before him to reach the end-of-season championship was Spain's Sergio Garcia, who was 21 in 2001.

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, northern-ireland

First posted December 05, 2012 07:19:58

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McIlroy ends season in winning style

Updated November 26, 2012 07:59:09

Rory McIlroy won the DP World Tour Championship in magnificent fashion in Dubai on Monday morning (AEDT) when he birdied the last five holes to beat Justin Rose by two shots.

In the season-ending championship of the European Tour at the Earth course of Jumeirah Golf Estates, world number one McIlroy had fallen two shots behind the fast-charging Rose after a bogey on the 13th hole.

World number seven Rose, who set a new course record with a bogey-free round of 10-under par 62, had set the clubhouse target of 21-under 267.

But McIlroy easily moved ahead with a brilliant display of golf down the stretch, and after playing the final par-5 hole conservatively - he laid up with his second shot - he made his birdie putt from 12 feet to close with a round of 6-under 66.

McIlroy's 23-under 265 total matched the lowest four-round aggregate in the four-year history of the tournament - set by Lee Westwood in 2009 - and he also matched the Englishman's effort that year of winning both the Race to Dubai European Money List and the DP World Tour Championship in the same season.

It was the fifth win of the season for the reigning USPGA champion.

McIlroy had come into the tournament with an unassailable lead on top of the Race to Dubai. His earnings of 5,519,117 euros also beat the single year earnings record on the European Tour (5,323,400 euros by Luke Donald last year).

"I just wanted to finish the season the way I thought it deserved to be finished," an elated McIlroy said.

"I've played so well throughout the year, and I didn't want to just let it tail off sort of timidly. I wanted to come here and finish in style. I was able to do it.

"Obviously going out today, myself and Luke were tied for the lead, and we both didn't get off to the greatest of starts. And then Justin had that incredible back nine, shot 62, and I knew midway through the back nine I needed to do something special.

"Somehow summoned up the energy from somewhere to make five birdies in the last five holes. Just a great way to end this tournament, a great way to end the season, and I am already excited about 2013.

"It means a lot to me to win in this fashion, as well. I guess in a way, Justin gave me the opportunity to do what I did. I guess seeing a target there and shooting at something, it definitely makes you more focused."

Rose, who went ahead with a birdie-eagle-birdie stretch from the 13th hole onwards, almost made a magical eagle putt from 70 feet, only to miss it by inches.

In hindsight, it would not have mattered, but it would have certainly put more pressure on McIlroy.

On his round of 62, Rose said: "That was a lot of fun. The front nine was just as good as the back nine, and the back nine putts started going in, which is a nice feeling. Just started to get refocussed, but obviously I knew I was playing my way into the lead.

"It was just important for me to keep positive, as well, to keep aggressive.

"But you know what Rory is capable of. Fair play to him for making all those birdies down the stretch."

Donald, who had not made a bogey for 100 holes at the Earth course till the end of third round, made two on Sunday - the streak ended on the third hole - and could not get going.

He finished with a one-under par 71 to be tied third with 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-arab-emirates

First posted November 26, 2012 07:41:22

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McIlroy edges Woods in exhibition battle

Updated October 29, 2012 22:01:53

Rory McIlroy staked an early lead before holding on to win by a stroke in his "Duel at Jinsha Lake" 18-hole exhibition event against Tiger Woods on Monday.

"It was a pretty exciting day and the match was pretty close all day," Northern Ireland's McIlroy told reporters just 24 hours after finishing second in the European Tour BMW Masters event in Shanghai.

The world number one moved into a lead he would never relinquish against his American opponent when he birdied two of his opening three holes and Woods dropped a shot on the third, before going on to sign for a bogey-free 5-under 67.

On a cool and misty day in front of an enthusiastic gallery, double major winner McIlroy made the turn two shots clear of Woods at three-under par in the medal match-play encounter.

Woods, who was playing in China for a first time in two years, clawed a shot back when he chipped in from off the green at the par-three 12th but slipped two behind again with a bogey on the next.

The world number two birdied the 14th to reapply the pressure back on McIlroy and after both players picked up shots on the 15th, they each parred the final three holes with Woods almost forcing a play-off when he almost chipped in on the last.

"I got off to a good start and had a little bit of advantage for the first few holes but then Tiger birdied a few on the back nine," McIlroy said.

"All I was trying to do was to keep myself ahead and I managed to do that."

Woods arrived in Zhengzhou having finished fourth in the CIMB Classic in Malaysia on Sunday and was looking for a repeat win over McIlroy after handing the Briton a seven-shot round-robin defeat in the recent World Golf Final in Turkey.

However, both players struggled with the speed of the Jinsha Lake greens while staff fought a constant battle with fans, who often broke through security lines.

Despite his defeat, Woods hinted he would welcome further opportunities to go head-to-head against McIlroy in similar end-of-season exhibition matches.

"This certainly was not my usual way I spend Mondays but to have this many people come out and watch us play golf... was something special," Woods said.

"These events don't happen that often and it was just great to see everyone so excited to see us come here and excited to watch us play.

"So as far as doing something like this down the road, it would be fun.

"We're ranked one and two in the world respectively and to have matches like this to promote the game of golf is what it's all about."

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, china

First posted October 29, 2012 20:41:17

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McIlroy and Woods lose on opening day in Turkey

Updated October 10, 2012 09:54:35

The world's leading two golfers, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, were beaten in the opening round at the $5.1m World Golf Final at the Turkish resort of Belek.

World number one McIlroy played his closing five holes on the Sultan Course in a horror seven-over par for an eventual round of a five-over par 75 to lose to American rival Matt Kuchar who shot a one-under par 70.

It was both McIlroy and Kuchar's first competitive round of golf since last month's Ryder Cup.

McIlroy had his girlfriend, the former world number one tennis player Caroline Wozinacki, walking the course with him but it failed to lift the 23-year-old Northern Irishman.

McIlroy had gone ahead at the first with a par but after Kuchar birdied the second that was the closest the double major Champion got to the current world number 15.

Kuchar made the turn two shots ahead and while McIlroy was one-under par from the 10th to the 14th holes he finished triple bogey, double bogey, double bogey and par.

"I hit a drive into the trees on 15 and lost a bit of confidence," said McIlroy.

"I need to win both of my matches tomorrow if I am to advance. I just struggled for a bit of motivation out there so I need to go out and concentrate on both of my matches tomorrow."

Kuchar remarked: "It was quite a match and I played really well on the front nine and was three ahead through 10 holes.

"I just thought I had to play mistake-free and hopefully Rory wouldn't get too hot.

"All of a sudden we were back to even with four to go but then it was one of these formats which really showed itself with what happened on 15 to Rory.

"There we are all square with four to go, he hits it right and makes triple bogey, and I go three up with three to go and I think both of us lost a little interest at that point."

Kuchar earns a point for his victory and now faces Woods in Wednesday morning's second round and Schwartzel in the afternoon.

Woods began his campaign for the $1.5m first prize cheque with a birdie at the first but found himself two strokes behind his fellow Masters winner when Woods triple bogeyed after finding water off the tee and then three-putting.

Their match was all-square coming down the last but Woods then sent his second shot into a back greenside bunker from where the 14-time major winner took bogey to lose by a shot with a round of 70 to Schwartzel's 69.

"It came right down to the wire but I can't believe how far that second shot flew into the back bunker and that was the match," Woods said.

"It means now that I have to play 'Kooch' (Matt Kuchar) and try and win that match before facing Rory in the afternoon but my main concern is 'Kooch' and trying and beat him.

"Despite the outcome I really enjoy the format and I haven't played since format since the times of the Dunhill Cup.

"It's not something that we play very often and we saw today how it can swing on you. I had a three-shot swing go against me on nine and a two-shot in my favour at 17 when I birdied the hole and Charl bogeyed."

The leading two point scorers in their Group 2 will advance to Thursday's semi-final against the leading two players from Group 1.

Victorious Ryder Cup colleagues Lee Westwood and Justin Rose head Group 1 with Westwood accounting for US Open champion, Webb Simpson with a round of 72 compared to Simpson's 73.

Rose defeated Hunter Mahan by four strokes with a round of 71 to Mahan's 75.

AFP

Tags: sport, golf, turkey

First posted October 10, 2012 07:47:29

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McIlroy in Ryder Cup times mixup

Updated October 01, 2012 06:52:15

Rory McIlroy nearly missed his tee off time in the third Ryder Cup singles match at Medinah Country Club on Sunday following a mixup over times.

The world number one was seen being driven hastily into the course with 10 minutes to go before he was due to take on Keegan Bradley.

He rapidly pulled his golf shoes on and acknowledged skipper Jose Maria Olazabal before heading straight to the practice putting green.

US TV reports said that McIlroy in his hotel room had mistaken eastern seaboard time for Chicago time which is one hour later.

McIlroy promptly pushed his first drive into the crowds lining the side of the first fairway and the ball bounced back to nestle in a bunch of TV cables.

He got relief from that but then badly under-hit his approach shot.

A superb chip stone dead ensured his par, and the hole was halved.

"We didn't have that in mind," said Olazabal of McIlroy's no-show drama.

"All of a sudden we realised that he wasn't here. We looked for him and nobody knew where he was. He came in with a police escort and made it with 10 or 12 minutes before he was due to tee off," he said.

The incident did not have too much impact on the Northern Ireland golfer, who went on to beat Bradley by 2 & 1.

AFP

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First posted October 01, 2012 06:52:15

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Red-hot McIlroy wins at Crooked Stick

Updated September 10, 2012 10:17:38

World number one Rory McIlroy continued his red-hot form when he cruised to his third win in four starts with a two-shot victory at Crooked Stick that locked in the 30-man Tour Championship field.

Adam Scott was the best of the Australians finishing in a tie for sixth at 16-under-par, while Greg Chalmers and Geoff Ogilvy finished 10-under and 7-under respectively.

John Senden finished at even par to qualify for the Tour Championship alongside Scott, while Marc Leishman ended with 4-over-par for the tournament.

With a glittering leaderboard featuring six major winners and four players who have held the number one ranking packed into the top 10, McIlroy carded a 5-under 67 to collect his fourth PGA Tour win of the season and second in seven days.

The mop-topped Northern Irishman finished 20-under-par and will head to the September 20-23 Tour Championship in Atlanta as the favourite to walk away with the $US10 million ($9.8 million) bonus that will go to the FedEx Cup points leader.

Former world number one Lee Westwood of Britain and four-times major champion Phil Mickelson of the United States tied for second place at 18-under-par.

"I just wanted to go out and play as best as I could," said McIlroy, adding he plans to go to New York next week and train with the NBA's New York Knicks.

"I knew if I played to my ability that I would win events.

"I didn't think that everything would happen so quickly, but I'm just on a great run at the minute and trying to keep that going for as long as possible."

If there was any doubt, the victory over the all-star lineup confirmed McIlroy's status as golf's dominant player.

He becomes the first golfer since Tiger Woods in 2009 to win PGA Tour events on back-to-back weeks and joins Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the only players since 1960 to win six PGA Tour titles before the age of 24.

With four PGA Tour wins, including a second major at the PGA Championship, McIlroy also moves into pole position to claim player of the year honours.

"Rory was putting on a show out there," praised Woods, who was partnered with McIlroy through the opening two rounds.

"He's doing the things he needs to do and as he said, he's feeling very confident about his game.

"Right now, he's just really playing well and makes a ton of putts. That's a great combo."

McIlroy began the day a shot back of overnight leaders Mickelson and Vijay Singh, but was on the move quickly with birdies at the second and fifth before topping the leaderboard to stay with back-to-back birdies at nine and 10.

The 23-year-old then pulled away from the field with two more birdies at 15 and 16 to open up a three-shot cushion with two to play.

Mickelson, who has discovered a rich vein of form in recent weeks himself, tried to keep pace by trimming McIlroy's advantage to two with birdies on 15 and 16.

But a bogey on 17 removed any suspense, allowing McIlroy a leisurely stroll up the 18th where he signed off with his only bogey of the day, a small fist pump and a winning total of 268.

Mickelson returned a 2-under 70 to finish joint second with Westwood who clinched his first ticket to the Tour championship with a 3-under 69.

"I was a little bit off today, my timing was just a fraction off," Mickelson said.

"But I'm really pleased with the way my game has come around the last two weeks.

"I had a fourth last week, tied for second this week.

"It puts me in a position where if I can improve just a little bit more for the Tour Championship and win, I'll be able to win the FedExCup."

Woods, who failed to qualify for the Tour Championship last year, is headed back to Atlanta's East Lake Golf Club with an eye on the collecting the prizemoney for a third time after returning a 3-under 68 to finish in a tie for fourth with American compatriot Robert Garrigus (69) at 17-under.

"It's getting better," Woods said.

"I just need to (not) have that one little stretch of holes.

"That little stretch sometimes takes you out of a tournament, especially in a shootout like this."

Reuters/ABC

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First posted September 10, 2012 08:43:34

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McIlroy in four-way share of lead

Updated September 07, 2012 10:23:04

World number one Rory McIlroy birdied his final two holes to earn a four-way share of the lead in the first round at Crooked Stick while playing partner Tiger Woods was a shot back.

McIlroy, fresh off his win at the TPC Boston on Monday, mixed an eagle, seven birdies and a lone bogey for an 8-under 64 in the penultimate event of the FedEx Cup that put him in a tie for the lead with Americans Webb Simpson and Bo Van Pelt and Canadian Graham DeLaet.

Van Pelt, who failed to make the U.S. Ryder Cup team this week, may have had captain Davis Love III rethinking his picks after a bogey-free round while Simpson, an automatic selection, was equally impressive, particularly on the back nine stringing together four consecutive birdies from the 14th.

DeLaet, still seeking a PGA Tour win, was the unknown on a leaderboard packed with former and current world number ones, multiple major winners and Ryder Cup members.

But the unheralded Canadian certainly looked like he belonged, mixing seven birdies and an eagle against one bogey for his 64.

With the suspense of Ryder Cup selections over, the focus is back on the FedEx playoffs this week and there is plenty at stake with the elite field of 70 players vying for one of 30 spots in the Sept. 20-23 Tour Championship finale in Atlanta where the overall points winner gets a $10 million bonus.

The only players with three PGA Tour wins this season, Woods and McIlroy were paired together for the second time in three weeks.

Joined by American Nick Watney, the trio garnered most of the attention from spectators on a sweltering hot day in the American Midwest as Woods and McIlroy went toe-to-toe producing a scintillating display of quality shot-making.

After the two rivals birdied their opening hole it was clear the massive gallery was in for a special treat.

No one enjoyed the round more than Woods and McIlroy, who spent much of the afternoon laughing and chatting before leaving the course singing each other's praises.

"This is the next generation of guys coming out," gushed Woods to reporters. "He (McIlroy) hits it great, putts it great and on top of that he just a really nice kid.

"The game of golf is in great hands with him and he's here to stay."

For McIlroy the feeling was mutual.

"I've always enjoyed playing with Tiger, every time we are paired together we seem to have a good time," said the Northern Irishman.

"You're watching a guy your whole life, you're growing up watching him do all those unbelievable things on TV and then you are stuck in there with him."

As the PGA Tour season reaches a climax both McIlroy and Woods appear to be hitting on all cylinders.

McIlroy, who has won two of his last three starts, arrived at the PGA Tour's penultimate FedExCup playoff event leading the points standings.

Woods' play in the opening round offered more proof that the world number three is close to recapturing his best form.

A year ago, Woods, struggling with injuries, fallout from his divorce and a swing overhaul failed to even qualify for the lucrative season-ending series.

But the former-world number one, who passed $100 million in career earnings last week, is in the hunt for another big payday sitting third in the standings and a shot at the big bonus.

"I was scoring, I wasn't playing particularly well," said Woods, summing up his round. "Rory on the other hand played beautiful today.

"Every single part of his game was working.

"I was very fortunate to post the number I shot."

Woods was joined on 7-under by Fijian Vijay Singh while Briton Luke Donald and Americans Ryan Palmer and Ryan Moore shot 6-under 66s.

Briton Justin Rose got the defence of his title - won last year at Cog Hill near Chicago - off to a strong start, closing with three birdies for a 5-under 67 to sit three off the pace.

Reuters

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted September 07, 2012 10:23:04

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McIlroy claims victory in Massachusetts

Updated September 04, 2012 10:54:55

World number one Rory McIlroy clinched his fifth PGA Tour title, and second in three starts, with a one-shot victory over South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen at the PGA Tour event in Norton, Massachusetts.

McIlroy, who began the round three shots back of Oosthuizen, fired a 4-under-par 67 in the final round for a 20-under 264 that handed the 23-year-old Northern Irishman the second of the PGA Tour's four FedExCup play-off events.

Adam Scott was the best-placed Australian, carding a 66 to tie for seventh some eight shots behind McIlroy.

John Senden missed a top-10 finish after four-putting on the final green to ultimately place 12th, while Greg Chalmers (-3), Aaron Baddeley (-2), Marc Leishman (-2), Jason Day (even) and Geoff Ogilvy (even) were never in contention.

Oosthuizen (71), who trailed McIlroy by three shots with six holes to play at the TPC Boston, finished alone in second while former world number on Tiger Woods (66) was third a further shot back.

The win was McIlroy's third of the season, the first since last month's PGA Championship, and puts him level with Woods for the most wins on the PGA Tour this season.

"Today was great," McIlroy told reporters.

"I am delighted to get this win, delighted to go to number one in the FedExCup, because it sets me up for a great next couple of weeks.

"Going out with a three-shot deficit. I just wanted to get off to a good solid start and maybe put Louis under a little bit of pressure."

The win guarantees that McIlroy will go into the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta knowing that a victory there would earn him the overall FedExCup title and the bonus of $10 million.

However, Monday's final round at the TPC Boston was by no means a cakewalk for McIlroy.

Oosthuizen fightback

Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, fought back after the turn and faced a 12-foot birdie putt on the last hole to force a play-off but his attempt slid past the right edge of the cup.

"You could hear all the commentators in the crowd saying what the putt is doing, so after putting that aside and just reading the putt properly, standing over it, I wanted to hit more than I read," the South African said.

"But even if I had putted where I read it, it doesn't do that much, which is amazing. If I go and hit that putt again, I'd probably miss it on exactly the same side."

Woods started the day six strokes off the lead but, despite carding a bogey-free round, he never really threatened the leaders.

The 14-times major champion was four under on the front nine and then carded eight successive pars before signing off with a birdie at the last.

By clinching a third-place cheque for $544,000, Woods became the first player to surpass $100 million in career earnings on the PGA Tour.

South Korea's KJ Choi and Australians Day and Baddeley were among several leading players who failed to finish in the top 70 in the FedExCup standings and will therefore not advance to next week's BMW Championship in Carmel, Indiana.

Reuters/ABC

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First posted September 04, 2012 09:18:37

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McIlroy blows away Championship field

Updated August 13, 2012 09:54:50

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy repelled an early onslaught by Britain's Ian Poulter before cruising to his second major title by a record eight shots at the PGA Championship on Sunday.

The 23-year-old McIlroy, who started the final round with a three-shot lead, carded a flawless 6-under-par 66 that gave him a 13-under total of 275 in the year's last major.

The mop-haired Northern Irishman sank a 20-foot putt from just off the green to birdie the last in glorious late afternoon sunshine at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, then lifted his putter skywards in celebration.

"I don't think I have let it sink in yet but it was a great round of golf," the mop-haired Northern Irishman said after being presented with the Wanamaker Trophy.

"I am speechless.

"It's been an incredible week. I had a good feeling about it at the start and I never imagined to do this."

His victory margin eclipsed the previous best set by golfing great Jack Nicklaus at Oak Hill in 1980 and underlined his burgeoning status as heir apparent to former world number one Tiger Woods.

Geoff Ogilvy was the best-finishing Australian, returning to the clubhouse with a 70 on the final day to finish 2-under, tied for 11th with countryman Adam Scott, American Tiger Woods and Graeme McDowell.

Britain's David Lynn, competing in his first PGA Championship, birdied two of the last three holes for a 68 to finish alone in second.

Fellow Englishman Poulter, who briefly trimmed McIlroy's lead to one shot after a sizzling five-birdie start, faded after the turn en route to a 69 and a tie for third at 4-under.

Level with Poulter were his compatriot Justin Rose (66), Swede Carl Pettersson (72) and defending champion Keegan Bradley of the United States (68).

Pettersson, despite being slapped with a two-stroke penalty for grounding his club in a hazard on the first hole, responded well with three birdies in five holes before coming unstuck like so many others on the more difficult back nine.

Four-times champion Woods, hunting his 14th major crown but his first in over four years, had to settle for a share of 11th place at two under after signing off with a 72.

"I was right there ... but I came out with probably the wrong attitude yesterday," the American world number two told reporters after offsetting two birdies with two bogeys in the final round.

"And I was too relaxed, and tried to enjoy it, and that's not how I play. I play intense and full systems go. That cost me."

Woods, however, paid tribute to McIlroy who he has long regarded as a player of uncommon talent.

"He's very good," he said.

"He's got all the talent in the world to do what he's doing. And this is the way that Rory can play. When he gets it going, it's pretty impressive to watch."

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted August 13, 2012 09:07:14

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McIlroy sees more majors in his future

Updated August 14, 2012 13:59:24

When Rory McIlroy arrived at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island for the PGA Championship he looked out of the clubhouse window and realised there was no place he'd rather be.

"I got here Monday afternoon. I went up to my locker. My locker was right by the window overlooking the putting green and overlooking the beach and the ocean," McIlroy said.

"I was thinking to myself, 'I just have a good feeling about this week'.

"I said it to my dad and I said it to my whole team; something about this just feels right.

"It's funny how things work out."

McIlroy was just too good to catch at the 94th PGA Championship as he claimed his second major title, capping a marathon final day in which the leaders played 27 holes.

The new world number one also held the 54-hole lead and he never wavered down the stretch, closing with a 6-under 66 to win the final major championship of the season by a staggering eight shots.

"It's nice to win my second major and to get the world number one all in the same day is very special," said McIlroy.

The Northern Irishman said he wasn't taking anything for granted in the final round so he didn't allow himself to think about the victory until he walked up the 18th fairway.

"I said, all right, I still have a long way to go. I still have to keep in the present, keep hitting my shots," the 23-year-old said.

"I allowed myself the luxury of walking up 18 knowing that I was going to win. I enjoyed the moment, just let it all sink in.

"It's just great to be able to put my name on another major championship trophy, and I am looking forward to April next year and getting a crack at another one."

The 2011 US Open winner became the first 54-hole leader in a major this season to go on to victory.

McIlroy was also able to reverse his bad fortune in majors this year - he tied for 40th at the Masters, tied for 60th at the British Open and missed the cut at the US Open.

He did however win earlier this year at the PGA Tour's Honda Classic.

And McIlroy feels he learned more from his loss at the 2011 Masters than his eight-stroke win at the US Open.

He was up by four, and appeared headed to victory, when he made the turn on that Sunday. But his tee shot at the 10th sailed left of the fairway and he went on to make triple bogey before playing his first three holes on the back nine in 6-over par and finishing with an 82.

"I wasn't too happy with how I've performed in the majors since the US Open," he said. "I didn't really contend.

"I feel these days when I give myself a chance to win one of these big tournaments, I can draw on the memories of Augusta, of Congressional, and now of today, and know what I did out there and know what to do again.

"There's quite a bit of relief to get the second one out of the way."

McIlroy has now won his two major championships by a combined score of 16 strokes.

"It's been great to win my first major last year and to back that up with another one this year; I can't ask for any more. I just want to keep working hard, keep practising, and hopefully there's a few more of these in my closet when my career finishes."

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, united-states, northern-ireland, united-kingdom

First posted August 14, 2012 13:59:24

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McIlroy leads, Oosthuizen and Woods chasing

Updated September 02, 2012 11:28:07

World number one Rory McIlroy fired a second straight 65 for a slim halfway lead in the PGA Tour event in Norton, Massachusetts with Louis Oosthuizen and Tiger Woods heading the chasing pack.

Northern Ireland's McIlroy, who earned his second career major title at the PGA Championship in August, had a 12-under total of 130 after two rounds on the par-71 TPC Boston layout.

South Africa's Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, was one shot back after a 65 for 131 and 14-time major champion Woods carded a 68 for 132, where he was joined by compatriot Ryan Moore, who also carded a 68.

McIlroy's round included an eagle on the revamped par-five 18th - his ninth hole of the day - where he stuck his approach shot two metres from the pin.

He had two bogeys on his inward nine, finding the water at the par-five second for a six and also bogeying the par-three third. But he bounced back with birdies at four and five.

"Everything seemed to work pretty well out there," McIlroy said.

"I felt like I drove the ball a bit better today and hit more fairways, which gave me some more opportunities to make birdies.

"And I was putting well enough to take a few of those," he added. "Yeah, pleased with where I am and looking forward to the weekend."

Overnight leader Seung-Yul Noh of South Korea had an even-par 71 that included an eagle and a double-bogey and was in a group of five players on 133 that also included South Africa's 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (65).

Nine players were separated by three shots heading into Sunday's third round of the $7.75 million tournament, which is scheduled to end on the US Labor Day holiday.

Prior to the event, the second in the US PGA Tour's four-tournament play-off series that ends with the Tour Championship in Atlanta, McIlroy predicted the winning total after four rounds on Monday would be from 15 to 18-under par.

"Now that I'm in the tournament, I just want to play as well as I can and maybe reassess things going into the last day," McIlroy said.

"But I was very happy with the two scores that I've got already and know that I need to go out and play just as good tomorrow to give myself a chance going into Monday."

While McIlroy said his putting helped him score, Woods could not get much going on the greens. He missed six birdie putts from within 18 feet.

"I didn't make anything today," Woods said. "There are a bunch of guys stacked up so we have to go out there and make some birdies."

Woods opened his round with birdies at the first and second holes, but he was unable to get up and down from a bunker at the par-three third and took bogey.

A birdie at the sixth was followed by a three-putt bogey at 11, but he picked up another shot at 14 where he drained a 30-foot birdie putt.

He holed a 17-footer for birdie at 17, but any hope of a birdie at the last evaporated when he found the rough off the tee and came up short with his third shot.

Oosthuizen also teed off on 10 and his round included five birdies and a chip-in for eagle on the par-four fourth, with just one bogey.

AFP

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First posted September 02, 2012 11:28:07

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McIlroy takes Memphis lead

Updated June 09, 2012 10:46:53

Rory McIlroy birdied three of his last four holes to surge into a one-stroke lead at the halfway mark of the St Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Northern Irishman, who had missed the cut in his last three tournaments, appears to be getting his game back on track just in time for the defence of his US Open crown next week with a 5-under-par 65 to be 7-under for the tournament.

Locked in a three-way tie for second a stroke further back are overnight co-leader Jeff Maggert, who shot a 68, and fellow Americans JB Holmes (64) and Kevin Stadler (65).

McIlroy carded an eagle and five birdies to offset two bogeys, and narrowly missed out on a second eagle when he lipped out a putt of less than four feet on the par-five 16th hole.

Nick O'Hern leads the Australian charge to be in a six-way share of 12th position on 3-under after shooting a 67 in the second round.

Countryman Robert Allenby is a shot back in a tie for 18th place, having produced a par round of 70 after opening the tournament with a 2-under 68.

Reuters

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First posted June 09, 2012 10:46:53

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McIlroy misses Players cut

Updated May 12, 2012 15:01:26

World number one Rory McIlroy missed the cut at the Players Championship after shooting a 4-over-par 76 in a second round which ended with a trio of Americans sharing the lead.

Adam Scott could not reproduce his heroics of yesterday but still fired a 2-under-par 70 to remain the best of the Australians.

Scott is tied for fifth while Rod Pampling, Geoff Ogilvy and Marc Leishman are all 1-under in a tie for 41st.

Americans Zach Johnson, Kevin Na and Matt Kuchar are knotted at 8-under 136, a shot clear of compatriot Harris English at the top of the leader board.

But with five players sitting a further stroke adrift and the course likely to get tougher over the weekend, the event widely known as golf's unofficial fifth major remains wide open.

One player who will not be able to make a move on Saturday is McIlroy, who has had a miserable record at the TPC Sawgrass course where he also missed the cut in his previous two appearances at the venue before skipping the event last year.

The Northern Irishman, who had not missed a cut since last year's Wells Fargo Championship, carded five bogeys and one birdie on Friday for a two-day total of 148.

"There is something about this place I just can't get to grips with," McIlroy told reporters.

"I just need to try and get the hang of this golf course somehow, it's just - I find it pretty difficult but it's just one of those weeks."

Tiger Woods had to fight to avoid missing successive cuts for the first time in his professional career after shooting a 74 in his opening round.

The former world number one, who failed to make the weekend at Quail Hollow last week, rose to the challenge by posting a 68 that included a string of four birdies around the turn that put him clear of trouble.

"I probably could have gotten one or two more out of it but I really played well today. I was just very consistent and nothing spectacular, just real solid golf," said the 14-times major champion.

It was a fair description of a round which leaves Woods six shots off the lead in a tournament he won in 2001.

Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, got off to a great start with three birdies in the opening four holes but he will be disappointed to have ended with a bogey on the 18th for a 6-under 66 that tied for the lowest round of the day.

"I never really gave the golf course much - in other words, I kept it where you need to keep it. My misses were proper. I was aggressive when I could be aggressive, and I caught a couple nice saves in there, too," the 36-year-old said.

"But when you shoot that kind of score around this golf course any day in the year, or any week, you're putting well. Clearly that's what I've been doing the best."

Martin Laird, who shared the overnight lead with fellow Briton Ian Poulter, slipped two shots off the pace after carding a 73, his solid effort undone by a double-bogey at the 'island green' 17th, where he found water, and then a bogey on the 18th.

Poulter opened his second round on the back nine with a double-bogey on his first hole, the 10th, followed by another double at the par-three 13th.

However the fashion conscious Englishman recovered to card a 4-over 76 that left him five strokes off the lead.

Defending champion K.J. Choi of South Korea missed the cut after a 76 on Friday left him with a two-day total of 151.

Also heading home early were British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, who was beaten in a playoff by Bubba Watson at this year's Masters, American world number five Hunter Mahan and three-times major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland.

Steve Stricker ended his run of 49 tournaments without missing the cut.

ABC/Reuters

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First posted May 12, 2012 10:50:45

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McIlroy moves into Masters contention

Updated April 07, 2012 12:34:06

Rory McIlroy moved in for the kill and Tiger Woods was left kicking his club in frustration during a Masters second round that ended with Americans Jason Dufner and Fred Couples sharing the lead.

A log-jammed leaderboard, featuring five players one stroke off the pace, sets up a fascinating weekend for the first major of the year with 52-year-old Couples, winner at Augusta 20 years ago, cast in the role of underdog.

McIlroy, the world number two and US Open champion, shot a composed 2-under-par 69 to move within a stroke of the lead but the man he was presumed to be duelling with at Augusta - four-times Masters winner Woods - came close to imploding.

Woods pushed his tee shot right into the bunker on the 16th and hurled his club to the ground before kicking it away in a flash of anger and frustration.

There was no shortage of grimacing and muttering from a tired and unhappy looking Woods, as he battled through the final holes, struggling but avoiding a total meltdown that would have left him missing the cut.

After opening with birdies on two of his first three holes, Woods had five bogeys the rest of the way and posted a 3-over 75 that left him eight shots back of the leaders and three shots from missing the cut.

Aaron Baddeley is the best-placed Australian in an eight-way share off 11th position on 2-under, having shot a 1-under 71 in the second round.

His countryman Adam Scott, who was tied for second last year with another Australian Jason Day, is three strokes back after carding a 2-under 70.

Day was forced to pull out during the second round due to an ankle injury.

He had completed seven holes and was at 5-over-par for the tournament when he decided to withdraw.

McIlroy started the day four shots off the pace but the Northern Irishman made a solid start with three birdies on his first seven holes, including a 35-foot birdie putt on the par-three fourth.

He briefly had a share of the lead, after a birdie on the 15th, but slipped back after he bogeyed the 17th hole.

Spain's Sergio Garcia looked set to join the American duo atop the leaderboard but bogeyed the par-four 18th to finish at 4-under 68, a shot off the pace along with Lee Westwood (72), Louis Oosthuizen (72), McIlroy and Bubba Watson (71).

Couples mixed seven birdies with two bogeys for a 5-under 67, matching the second-round score he shot at Augusta National in 1992 when he won the Masters.

"I feel like I know every inch of the course. I've played 28 years here and today was really a magical day," Couples said.

"I'm going to be right there with everybody Saturday and Sunday, well, Saturday for sure."

Overnight leader Westwood had parred his first 10 holes and produced two birdies on the back nine but undid a lot of his work on the final hole where he three-putted for a double bogey.

South Africa's Oosthuizen, who began the day tied for second, had a rough start to his round with a double-bogey seven on the second hole before a strong finish that included three birdies on his final five holes.

But the surprise face among the leaders was Couples, who plays mainly on the senior Champions Tour but showed has vast understanding of the course where he won his only major.

The veteran, who started the day in a share of 29th place, had two bogeys and five birdies on the front nine and was flawless the rest of the way, making birdies at the 15th and 16th to move to 5-under.

Dufner has recently made a habit of getting into the lead in the first half of tournaments only to fade at weekends but he will be looking to go one better than at last year's PGA Championship where he lost in a play-off to Keegan Bradley.

South African Charl Schwartzel, who won last year's Masters title by two shots when he became the first champion to birdie the last four holes, was eight shots back after a 3-over 75.

Among those missing the cut were nine former Masters champions and reigning British Open champion Darren Clarke.

Reuters

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First posted April 07, 2012 10:31:24

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Norman call helped McIlroy move on

Updated April 04, 2012 11:07:35

A Greg Norman phone call made just a few days after the 2011 Masters could be the catalyst for Rory McIlroy getting over last year's final-round collapse and winning a green jacket.

McIlroy led by four heading into the final round of the Masters last year before famously imploding with an 80 to crash to a tie for 15th, bringing back memories of Norman's similar collapse in 1996.

Norman started six in front of Nick Faldo but collapsed with a 78 to end five behind.

McIlroy bounced back in last year's US Open to claim his first major by eight strokes but will he be able to bury his Augusta demons?

The Northern Irishman is confident he can and will and he says it was Norman's call that resonated heavily in the days after the meltdown.

He enters the week as second favourite behind only four-time champion Tiger Woods.

"I was in Malaysia in my hotel room and he (Norman) just gave me a call and he talked to me about it," McIlroy recalls.

"I think it was great coming from him, because he had sort of been in the same position in 1996 and I think '86 and 1987 as well.

"He's had experience of that before, and I think it was great because I'm sure he knew how I felt."

McIlroy revealed the two time British Open champion didn't just call to say sorry, but imparted plenty of wisdom on how to move forward.

It helped the youngster bounce back at the US Open and beyond having recently moved to number one in the world for a brief stint.

"He said a couple things to me that I found very useful and sort of put into practice, especially weeks like this where there's so much hype and there's so much build-up," McIlroy said.

"He said just to try and create this little bubble around yourself and just try and get into that and sort of don't let any of the outside interference come into that.

"That was big for me. It was just great to get the phone call from him, because I think he knew more than anyone else how I was feeling at that point."

McIlroy is now hoping he can do what Norman couldn't - win a green jacket.

He revealed he wasn't ready mentally in 2011, but is now.

"I learned a lot (last year)," he said. "I think one of the things I learnt was that as a person and as a golfer, I wasn't ready to win the Masters. I wasn't ready to win a major.

"I really needed to think about what I needed to do to improve mentally and in different aspects of my game to get better.

"I felt like I did that and I feel like I've been playing some good golf leading up to this week.

"I feel like I'm bringing in some pretty good form and I'm just excited to get started.

"Obviously the first time I played the back nine last week there's memories that come back and memories that you probably don't want.

"But it's fine. I got that all out of the way and now looking forward to trying to put myself in contention to try and win this thing."

AAP

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First posted April 04, 2012 07:13:57

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McIlroy to meet Westwood in Match Play semi

Updated February 26, 2012 12:30:01

Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood, each seeking a title to become world number one, advanced to a semi-final showdown at the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship.

World number two McIlroy of Northern Ireland defeated South Korea's Bae Sang-Moon 3 and 2 while Englishman Westwood, ranked third, defeated Scotland's Martin Laird 4 and 2 to set up a high-stakes semi-final at the $7.9 million event.

"It will be a great match," Westwood said. "I hope we both play well and make lots of birdies."

Either Westwood, a former world number on, or McIlroy, trying to achieve the mark for the first time, would replace England's Luke Donald as the world number one if he wins Sunday's 18-hole final.

But before one of them gets the chance to face either Hunter Mahan or Mark Wilson in Sunday's afternoon final, he must conquer the other in a morning semi-final.

"It's the match I wanted and the match everyone else wanted," said McIlroy, who at 22 would become the youngest WGC Match Play champion.

Not since 2004 have two of the four top seeds reached the semi-finals of the event and not since Tiger Woods and Davis Love met in 2000 have two top seeds met in a semi-final.

Mahan beat US compatriot Matt Kuchar 6 and 5 without losing a hole and Wilson ousted Sweden's Peter Hanson 4 and 3 in other quarter-finals to set up an all-American semi-final and ensure the event's first US finalist since Tiger Woods won in 2008.

"Hunter has made a ton of birdies this week," Wilson said. "I've got to focus on hitting the green and making that par. I'm not going to change anything about the way I'm playing."

Bae, 25, beat McIlroy in a head-to-head showdown in the final round of the South Korean Open three years ago, but the 44th-ranked Bae had never played in a WGC or match play event until this week.

McIlroy seized the lead with a birdie at the first hole but found water off the tee at the par-3 third and took a bogey that sqaured the match.

Bae sank a long birdie putt at the fourth, the longest par-4 hole in PGA history at 536 yards, but McIlroy kept the match level with a round-the-cup effort.

McIlroy sank a five-foot birdie putt at the eighth to regain a 1-up edge but went well right off the 10th tee and landed under a desert bush, forcing him to take an unplayable lie on the way to a bogey that squared the match.

McIlroy responded with a birdie to win the par-5 11th, then Bae found a bunker off the 13th tee while McIlroy blasted inches from the cup out of a greenside bunker to seize a 2-up advantage.

A tap-in birdie at the 15th put McIlroy 3-up with three holes to play and he halved the last to secure the triumph.

"I felt like I hit some really good shots," McIlroy said. "I felt like everything was pretty solid. I played really well out there."

Westwood, who had been number one until being overtaken by Donald last year, had not trailed in a match this week until Laird opened with a five-foot birdie putt.

"He started how I wanted to start, fast and strong," Westwood said of Laird. "I could have been 3-down after three.

But Westwood sank a 13-foot par putt at the sixth to square the match, then birdied to win the seventh and moved 2-up at the turn when Laird bogeyed the ninth.

Westwood moved 3-up when Laird bogeyed 10, but the Englishman missed a five-foot par putt and Laird tapped in to win the 11th.

Sinking a tense birdie putt from six feet allowed Westwood to halve the 13th and Laird found a greenside bunker to prompt a concession at the 14th that put Westwood 3-up. After they halved 15, Laird fell at the 16th.

Hanson had not trailed in any match this week, but promptly fell behind Wilson with a bogey at the opening hole.

A bogey by Wilson at the sixth squared the match. Wilson birdied the eighth to briefly reclaim the lead, only to have Hanson sink a five-foot birdie at the ninth.

Hanson began the back nine with back-to-back bogeys to fall 2-down and Wilson sank a three-foot birdie at 13 to move 3-up. After another bogey by Hanson put Wilson 4-up Wilson birdied 15 to halve the hole and seal the victory.

AAP

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First posted February 26, 2012 11:04:22

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McIlroy rejects talk of Tiger rivalry

Updated March 07, 2012 13:37:36

New world number one Rory McIlroy does not see Tiger Woods as a rival and said his toughest opponent is simply the golf course he faces each week.

McIlroy ascended to the top of golf's world rankings with victory in the US PGA event in Palm Beach Gardens in Florida, keeping his cool after Woods charged up the leaderboard with a final round 62.

His triumph left his phone buzzing with messages of congratulations from Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson and striker Wayne Rooney and also plenty of talk about the sport having a new rivalry at the top.

Woods's best ever final round score indicated he could yet get back to something like the form that took him to 14 majors and be a regular Sunday challenger alongside 22-year-old McIlroy.

"To be honest in golf, you can have a rival if you want, but at the end of the day, your biggest rival is a golf course. You have to be able to beat the golf course more often than not and that's all you are trying to do," said the Northern Irishman, who features in this week's WGC event at Doral.

"Ultimately you're going to have to beat people coming down the stretch on Sundays and whether it is Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson or Lee Westwood, Luke Donald or Martin Kaymer, or whoever, I would never really want to say that I am in a rivalry with someone.

"I just want to go out there and play good golf and solid golf and if I can do that then people can make up the rivalries themselves.

"But I don't see myself as anyone's rival out here -- I just see myself as Rory McIlroy trying to play good golf and winning tournaments."

The US Open champion acknowledged that his victory at the PGA National on Sunday had been all the more special with Woods waiting in the clubhouse knowing he could grab the title if McIlroy slipped up.

"To be honest, I was probably thinking to myself, could it not just have been anyone else?" McIlroy said. "It definitely made Sunday a little more difficult, or more interesting.

"I can sit here and lie and say that it didn't feel better to have Tiger post a score and to be able to play solid -- it maybe made it feel a little sweeter than if it had been someone else."

McIlroy will play the first two rounds this week on the Blue Monster course with world number two Luke Donald and number three Lee Westwood.

Reuters

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First posted March 07, 2012 13:35:01

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McIlroy crowned world number one

Updated March 05, 2012 14:30:48

Britain's Rory McIlroy held off a spectacular final round charge from Tiger Woods to win the Honda Classic and take over as golf's new world number one.

McIlroy, 22, replaced Luke Donald at the top of the world rankings after a thrilling victory at the PGA National course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Only Woods, who finished tied for second with Tom Gillis, reached number one at an earlier age.

The winner of last year's US Open, McIlroy started the last day with a two-shot lead and finished up winning by the same margin after shooting a final round 1-under-par 69 for a total of 12-under.

The Northern Irishman looked to be cruising to victory until Woods charged up the leaderboard with a 62, his lowest final-round score of his career, making an eagle at the last hole to briefly cut the margin to one stroke.

But McIlroy, who had bogeyed the 12th, birdied the 13th to restore his two-shot advantage then kept his composure through the tricky 'Bear Trap' trio of holes to win his third PGA title.

It was the perfect test of McIlroy's credentials, playing three of the toughest holes on the tour, designed by the watching Jack Nicklaus, with Woods waiting for the youngster to slip up.

"It was tough today, especially seeing Tiger make a charge, seeing him post 10-under," McIlroy said.

"To shoot 1-under in these conditions when you go in with the lead... I was just able to get the job done."

Woods, despite just missing out on his first win on the PGA Tour since September 2009, was nonetheless delighted with a performance which suggested he can recapture the form which took him to 14 major wins.

"I really didn't miss many shots today," he said.

"It was a good day and I hit a lot of good putts that went in and some that just skirted the edge.

"It could have really been something special today if a few putts would have gone in.

"It feels good because I felt like I've been close to shooting this score or scores like this.

"It was just a matter of time before things all fell into place."

Gillis, playing in the final group with McIlroy, birdied the final hole for a 69 and a tie for second place at 10-under.

Britain's Lee Westwood, who held the number one ranking for 22 weeks in 2010 and 2011, finished outright fourth, two shots back at 8-under, after closing with a 63.

South Africa's Charl Schwartzel, last year's Masters champion, tied with Britain's Justin Rose at 7-under.

Reuters

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First posted March 05, 2012 09:40:39

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McIlroy to play Mahan in Match Play final

Updated February 27, 2012 07:49:20

Rory McIlroy has stormed back from a heavy early deficit to take down Lee Westwood in the semi-finals of the WGC Match Play Championship in Arizona.

McIlroy was three down through four holes but went on an absolute tear to beat Westwood 3 and 1 and set up a final match with American Hunter Mahan.

Mahan took care of countryman Mark Wilson 2 and 1 to be the only man standing in the way of McIlroy's attempt to not only win but also take the world number one ranking.

Should the 22-year-old beat Mahan today he will usurp Luke Donald as the world's premier player, becoming the second youngest player in history to do so behind Tiger Woods.

Westwood won three of the first four holes to take a sizable early advantage.

The Englishman rolled in a four-foot birdie on two, two putted comfortably from distance on three while McIlroy failed to get up and down from a bunker and coaxed another four-foot birdie putt in on four to be 3-up and in control.

But a bogey on the fifth for Westwood allowed McIlroy to finally win a hole and arrest some of the momentum.

McIlroy then nailed a great 29-foot birdie on the par three sixth and when Westwood could not respond from 27-feet, the Northern Irishman was just 1-down - and he had tied it all up by the eighth hole.

Despite watching Westwood hit an approach to 12-feet on the ninth McIlroy already had a whiff of the blood in the water and stuck his approach inside his opponent at eight feet.

Westwood missed his putt while McIlroy had no such troubles and as such turned with a somewhat unlikely 1-up lead.

After a fortuitous bounce out of the desert on the 11th hole McIlroy scrambled for a half and landed a serious blow when he slammed a 24-foot birdie putt on the par three 12th to go 2-up.

Westwood then found a woman's shirt with a wayward drive on the 13th and after receiving relief hacked forward into the rough. He found the green with his third shot but could not get a long birdie putt to drop.

Meanwhile, McIlroy continued his march forward by reaching the par five green in two, eventually winning the hole and setting up a decisive 3-up lead.

Westwood tried to rally with an eagle on the drivable par four 15th but it was too little too late and McIlroy closed it out on the 17th hole.

"I was just trying to stay patient and I knew if I just kept chipping away I could get him," McIlroy said.

"He started well, I didn't, but I sort of found my rhythm and made some birdies."

Mahan jumped out to an early advantage and never trailed.

He won the opening hole when Wilson drove the ball into the waste area and ended up with a bogey and then extended the lead to 2-up through as many holes when he nailed a five-foot birdie putt.

Sensing the match getting away early Wilson responded by taking the third hole but Mahan and his red-hot putter returned on the fourth.

He drained a 16-foot birdie putt to once again jump out to a 2-up lead.

Wilson won the fifth, Mahan the sixth and Wilson the 12th to have the lead at just one hole but Mahan pulled away once more when Wilson found bunker trouble on the drivable par four 15th, setting up a 2-up cushion.

AAP

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First posted February 27, 2012 07:42:24

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