A good golf shot is comparable to a magic trick. As you get closer, it becomes even more astounding, and no other person apart from another magician can understand it.
The identity of possibly the most impressed spectator seemed appropriate when Rory McIlroy scorched a 2-iron into the wind to within 10 feet, 8 inches of the pin on the 18th hole at The Renaissance Club, setting up the putt that would win him the Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday.
Tom’s playing companion at the Presidents Cup last autumn was the swoosh-clad player whose own 2-iron instantly became a classic.
“It was good to demonstrate my capabilities to the youngsters. I’m going to put that shot right up there with one of my best career shots,” stated McIlroy, who won his 24th career PGA TOUR championship and second this year.
One more was his 5-iron to 4 1/2 feet, which enabled him to make birdie on 17. Robert MacIntyre, the beloved son of Scotland, was devastated by the birdie-birdie finish that brought his 2-under 68 (back-nine 31) to an end. His 64 was the best score of the day. On a TV behind the driving range, he trained for a playoff that never materialized while watching McIlroy’s heroics.
The 18th par-4 hole, which was played as Sunday’s most difficult hole (4.67), only saw three birdies all day, two of which were made by MacIntyre and McIlroy.
“Only Rory could’ve done it.” Robert’s father, Dougie MacIntyre, stated, shaking his head.
“Rory McIlroy may be the best in the world, and he demonstrated this today.” Concluded Robert.
This did not appear to be a victory for McIlroy. The downwind 10th par-5 hole, where MacIntyre had scored eagle, was out of bounds for him to make a birdie, and he nearly gave up on his par attempt at the 12th par-3 hole when a gust of wind forced it into the hole. He went 2 over on the front nine. For most of the back nine, McIlroy was down by one or two strokes.
He had such a dramatic turn of events, in fact, that even he seemed impressed.
“The two iron shots I made a 5-iron on the 17th and then the 2-iron into the last—are two of the greatest I can recall making, especially in the given situation,” he said.
McIlroy debunked a few myths with those two spectacular shots and the putts that followed.
He was able to correct the impression that he cannot play in the wind.
The winds were so strong that after Kim marked the ball on 18, it flew away. During the award ceremony, McIlroy’s cap flew off his head.
He also corrected the notion that he cannot make pressure putts.
He converted from short and medium range on holes 17 and 18, respectively, after languishing in negative digits in Strokes Gained: Putting in the second and third rounds. He finished third (+2.67) in Round 4 after making a 38-foot birdie putt at the 14th par-3 hole.
McIlroy put a cap on a run of form that had seen him record five straight top-10s on the PGA TOUR without a win by winning for the first time anywhere since January (Hero Dubai Desert Classic). By triumphing numerous times at the jointly sanctioned Genesis Scottish Open, he erased previous near calls.
Last year, McIlroy made history by becoming just the second player to win both the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup and the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai in the same season (four career victories each). He increased his lead in the Race to Dubai with his victory on Sunday and climbed from seventh to third in the FedExCup. He might be on course to win both awards for a second consecutive year.
In addition, he made history by becoming the first player to win the Scottish Open, Irish Open, and The Open Championship (the major he won in 2014 before the major drought that has continued for nine years began). He finished second at the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews last summer after shooting 70 and making 16 pars in the final round. The same thing happened at the U.S. Open last month: 16 pars, 70, for second place. McIlroy has six top-10 finishes in his last seven major attempts without a victory.
But now, he’s on a roll and heading to Royal Liverpool.
“Yes, it feels wonderful. We are obviously approaching The Open Championship when I arrived here this week, but you know, you’re thinking about trying to get ready for it. However, considering this competition is also co-sanctioned for the Race to Dubai, FedExCup, and other events at the end of the year, you can’t help but consider the significance it holds.” he said.
He had been talking about “killing two birds with one stone” all week, a concept that The Renaissance Club’s resident falcon, who appeared to be observing closely from the arm of its uniformed handler, may have best understood. He’s done it now.
“An enormous confidence boost for The Open, without a doubt. Over the past few months, I’ve had several opportunities and have been knocking on doors. We can perhaps move on now that this has broken the seal.” McIlroy said.
