Rory's rebound: 'I had a really rough Ryder Cup. I was outside the top 10 in the world — it’s not a position that I’m used to being in'

McIlroy has three wins this year, closing with a 62 in the Canadian Open to outlast Tony Finau and Justin Thomas, a 66 in the Tour Championship to beat Scheffler, and a 67 at Congaree 

HAVING FUN: McIlroy celebrates with fan Kyler Aubrey from Georgia after winning the CJ Cup at Congaree Golf Club

THE final steps on Rory McIlroy’s long road back to No. 1 go down on the scorecard as bogeys, which made him laugh. All that mattered Sunday was winning the CJ Cup in South Carolina, and that about made him cry.

McIlroy reclaimed the No. 1 ranking for the ninth time by holding off Kurt Kitayama and enduring a nervous moment at the end with a three-putt bogey that gave him a 4-under 67 and a one-shot victory.