RORY MCILROY WON his second straight major championship and fourth of his young career, rallying on the back nine in the PGA Championship.
The tournament finished in near-darkness Sunday at Valhalla Golf Club, with the final two groups essentially morphing into a foursome as they raced to beat nightfall. A nearly two-hour rain delay set up the possibility of a Monday finish, especially if there had been a three-hole playoff.
McIlroy took care of that by shooting 3-under 68, beating Phil Mickelson by one stroke. McIlroy rallied from a three-shot deficit at the turn, setting up an eagle at the 10th with a brilliant second shot. He built a two-stroke lead with a 10-foot birdie putt at the 17th.
McIlroy finished at 16-under 268. Here’s the winning putt:
https://vine.co/v/MVVZbr9DL1X
Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson tied for third, two shots behind.
Before McIlroy thanked Fowler and Mickelson for their sportsmanship on the last hole, the Holywood native managed to save the top of the Wanamaker.
https://vine.co/v/MVVAM9ezFri
He’s the only player I’ve ever seen that consistently delivers his best performance of the year in the biggest game of all. Each and every all Ireland final he’s played in he has had a stormer
@Mel roberts: except for 2013 and 2017 finals I assume Mel?! Some player though in fairness yeah.
@Joe Kennedy: was a 19yo kid in 2013 and tore his cruciate in 2017 ffs
@Joe Kennedy: he was flying in 2017. If he played well that day he would have won poty.
@Joe Kennedy: kid was 19 in 2013 Joe and coming off an acl injury in 2017. He has consistently delivered big performances in the biggest of games for Dublin. A joy to watch when he is in full flight. He was on his own 21 at the sideline when Brian Fenton caught that kickout yesterday and still made up all that ground to finish the goal off
@Shimmy Shammy: haha…. That’s what it says in the article yeah!
@Mel roberts: haha…ah I know….was only messing! An absolute joy to watch yeah….some engine in him.
@Mel roberts: Brian Fenton didn’t catch that ball, Brian Howard did.
@The Upside-down Triangle: sorry Jimmy
@Mel roberts: definitely a class act
What a player. Great engine. Clever footballer. Only a doctor could cut Kerry apart with such precision.
He makes it look so easy.
He’s my favorite Dublin player by far and a really nice chap. We brought an underage team up from home to play a challenge match v Clontarf a few years ago. He was only back from abroad and was down watching a junior B hurling match with his mates I think he was still poty from the previous year . A load of kids both from us and Clontarf were going over to him and he had time for them all and chatted each one till they were finished no rushing or short answers. I got a seriously high opinion of him ever since. Plus he’s an absolute machine of a player
He’s the best player in the country, followed very closely but Con O’Callaghan. He kept Dublin in it yesterday.
Great piece Kevin. Any young player wanting to learn how to put the fear of God into any defender should just watch this lad in full flight
Great performance and my pick for player of the year.
Magnificent player. Relentless.
I thought Kerry did well keeping him to 1-3.
He was on fire at times in the game and when a player is going at it like he was it takes some great defending and refusal to lay down and die to keep your team in it. Well done to Kerry’s defence, as good if not better than their offence on the day.
Being a fullback when i played he is the worst to defend against! If you don’t stay tight to him he’ll score, never gives up and will beat you no bother if he has space.
@Eoin Murphy: if I’d had even half his speed, strength, fitness levels, awareness and determination, I definitely could have made it myself as a serious footballer!
@Joe Kennedy: stick to the junior b hurling, Joe.
Sure he’s a professional…..oops he is a full time doctor in Temple Street
What a player!
What a performance by him? If he never played another game again he will still go down as an all time great for me. Only 25 years old too. Heard Kieran Donaghy saying he’s not the best defender. 8 turnovers says otherwise but have to respect Donaghys call on this. He quit his job to play Gaelic football professionally so will have a much better grasp on this than most.
@Conor Pocock: Kieran never quit his job totally wrong . Nobody would ever dispute that Jack is one of the greats .
@Donal Carey: he says as much himself in interviews. Karl Lacey, Darran O’Sullivan and Lee Chin have all done the same
@Donal Carey: I full respect that he’s gone back to work since with his astro company. They did a great job with at least one Dublin club.
Yah he was fantastic he won the game for Dublin. Kevin you only write a piece like this when a team wins . Jack himself would squirm himself if he ever that load of crap