LAST UPDATE | 26 Aug
RORY MCcILROY HAD another eventful round at the BMW Championship at Castle Pines, where he shot a 71 to leave himself on six under overall, in a tie for 11th – and six strokes behind winner Keegan Bradley.
USA Ryder Cup captain Bradley pulled off a surprise victory at Castle Pines with his final round even-par 72 enough to sit him one stroke clear of the field.
McIlroy had to play without a driver for the second half of his round after accidentally snapping the club in two while leaning on it,f bending down to put in his tee in the ground at the ninth hole. He was not allowed to replace it under PGA rules.
😲 Rory McIlroy driver snap ☠️ @TrackingRory
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) August 25, 2024
pic.twitter.com/XGYafvuJda
The world No 3 then hit a wayward shot with his ball coming to rest on a bank just above the water.
Checking in on Rory McIlroy ... pic.twitter.com/vHFDQRhzgb
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 25, 2024
So for his second shot, McIlroy took off his shoes and socks and balanced one foot on a rock and one in the water. Yet he managed to hit his approach shot into the green and save par.
Rory McIlroy from the water hazard. How good is this shot.
— Tour Pro 🏌️♂️ (@OfficialTourPro) August 25, 2024
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McIlroy had bogies today on holes 1, 7, 10 and 13 but birdies on 6, 11, 14, 16 and 17 helped him to a one-under par 71.
His scoring was consistent over the championship, with 70s on Thursday and Saturdays and 71s on Friday and Sunday.
Shane Lowry also carded a 71 today to finish just one shot behind McIlroy on five-under. The Offaly man ended up in a tie for 13th.
Both McIlroy and Lowry are among the top 30 in the FedExCup standings after the BMW Championship and qualify for the Tour Championship at East Lake next week, and maintain their hopes of a FedExCup title.
Eventual champion Bradley had only qualified in the final spot in the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings with his last round at the St Jude Championship last week.
But the 38-year-old overnight leader drew on all his experience to produce a solid round on the Colorado course and finish on 12-under for the tournament.
From coming into the week ranked 50 out of 50, Bradley has now flown up the FedEx Cup rankings and heads to next week’s final event, the Tour Championship in Atlanta, fourth in the standings.
Sweden’s Ludwig Aberg, Australian Adam Scott and American Sam Burns had all threatened to steal the lead on the back nine but Bradley, who made two birdies and two bogeys — including on the final hole when the win was in the bag — held firm.
It was the seventh win on the PGA Tour for Bradley and it was greeted with chants of ‘USA, USA’ around the 18th green for a player strongly associated with the country’s Ryder Cup team.
Bradley and Scott had been jousting for the lead for most of the weekend and the outcome was still in play on the final green. With Bradley enjoying a two-stroke advantage, Scott had a chance for birdie while the American had a long and tricky putt from off the green.
A birdie for the Australian and a bogey for Bradley would have taken their duel to a playoff but after Scott missed his 18-foot attempt, Bradley could afford his bogey.
“I was shaking over that last putt. I was ready for those cheers. We did it. It was a battle all day,” he said. Bradley had described his performance last Sunday, to sneak into the top 50, as one of the most nerve-wracking experiences he had endured on tour and he smiled when considering how his week had turned out.
“It just shows why you’ve got to grind it out every week because you never know how fast it can switch. Now I go to Atlanta with a chance to win the FedExCup,” he said. “I can’t believe it. I’m so excited. My dad, first time he’s seen me win, so we’re pumped.”
Bradley was watched by his father Mark, who had taught him the game while working as a club professional. Scott, who had made his PGA Tour debut as a 20-year-old at this course, had pushed himself into the lead with an eagle on the par-5 first hole.
But he ultimately paid the price for a run of four bogeys on the back nine, including three in a row from the 10th to the 12th.
“(They) kind of blew it for me there. I was in position with wedges on every hole and made three bogeys. That’s almost unthinkable, really,” said Scott. “I definitely struggled on the greens on the weekend. Just didn’t quite have the confidence in some of those putts,” he added.
It’s amazing it came down to one shot, but I felt like my bogeys on 10, 11, 12 gave Keegan a bit of breathing space, and the pressure wasn’t really on him, and he didn’t make any mistakes.”
Burns watched the late drama unfold from the clubhouse after his outstanding seven-under 65 put him in contention.
World number one Scottie Scheffler remains atop the FedEx Cup standings despite finishing tied for 33rd spot after an even-par finish to a disappointing week for the Masters champion.
“I haven’t had many off weeks this year, so this was definitely one of them. So it feels good to at least put a decent round together today,” he said before looking ahead to next week’s playoff finale at East Lake, where the field is cut to the top 30 in the standings.
“I have just got to go out there and do my thing and compete,” said Scheffler.
You can see the final leaderboard here.
