McIlroy the king Kiawah
McIlroy turned a venue infamous for the 1991 Ryder Cup ‘War On the Shore’ into his own version of ‘Roars on The Shore’ in carding a bogey-free round of 66 to win with a 13-under tally.
On a sunny summer’s afternoon, McIlroy strode down the last, slipping off his cap and then running his fingers through his hair to unravel his curly brown locks, knowing, if he did, he could take 11 down the 72nd and still win by one.
McIlroy stood tall, winning a second Major championship to join Tiger Woods as one of only two active players competing on either the European or PGA Tours with more than one Major win. A second Major victory in just his 17th Major appearance also sees McIlroy overhaul Woods and Luke Donald to storm back to the World No1.
“I’m speechless,” said McIlroy fighting back tears.
“My putting was phenomenal today. I had a good feeling about it from the start.
“Thanks mum. Thanks dad. It means an awful lot to look at all those names on the trophy and put my name alongside them.”
England’s David Lynn, who had contested just one Major prior to this week, finished in a surprise second place recording a final round 68 for a five under par tally.
Four players, the England pair of Justin Rose (66) and Ian Poulter (69), along with defending PGA champion, Keegan Bradley (68) and Sweden’s Carl Pettersson (72), shared third place on four under par.
Woods, a four-time PGA winner, Woods carded a last day 72 for a two under par tally to finish tied with Graeme McDowell (71) in a distant share of 11th place.
McIlroy went into the last round at seven under par and three ahead of Pettersson, his nearest rival at four under par.
However Pettersson fell fowl of a rules breach at the very first hole, having to add a two-stroke penalty to his score card in brushing a leaf while played a shot for a hazard.
Poulter then stepped forward to take the challenge to McIlroy coming from six shots back at the start of the final round and get within three with six straight birdies.
Poulter was still three behind when he birdied the 12th, but it proved the high water mark of the Woburn wonder’s challenge as he then proceeded to bogey his next three holes.
While Poulter let slip the chance of a first Major victory, he needed to only finish top-nine in South Carolina to move from 12th and into top-10 automatic Ryder Cup qualifiers.
McIlroy headed straight to bed after his completed third round, citing a restless night’s sleep.
He declared before leaving the course he would return, drawing on the experiences of his Masters meltdown, but looking forward to savouring the memories of his Congressional command US Open-winning performance.
The Holywood golfing starlet kept true to his word.
While McIlroy shattered US Open records, he also set new records in lifting the gleaming Rodman Wanamaker trophy. He would be younger than Woods when he captured his second Major, the 1999 PGA Championship. And McIlroy would become a faster winner of a second Major than Woods, who took two years and four months between capturing the 1997 Masters and the 1999 PGA Championship.
McIlroy was also set to achieve a Major winning double a year and some three months since his record-shattering Congressional performance. As well, Mcllroy would become the youngest player to win a second Major since the late great Seve Ballesteros captured the 1980 Masters.
McIlroy also set a PGA Championship-winning record with his eight-stroke cruise to success, one less than Nicklaus’s record of seven strokes in capturing the 1980 PGA at Oak Hill in New York, and where McIlroy will defend the title next year.
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