For Rory McIlroy, perhaps it was a bit personal Sunday afternoon at East Lake.
One month ago, McIlroy was battered into submission during the fourth round of the WGC-Memphis event, won resoundingly by Koepka.
This time it was Rory winning with a back nine TKO. It was emphatic and brought home the biggest payday in the history of golf — $15 million.
Koepka was the center of attention last week after images of the world’s No. 1 in his birthday suit were released by ESPN The Magazine, promoting it’s upcoming body edition. He stayed at or near the lead all week and after the lightning-delayed third round was finished Sunday morning, Koepka took a one-shot lead over McIlroy into the final 18.
It looked like Koepka again, after all, he was four-for-four in closing out his most recent 54-hole leads.
This time, McIlroy wouldn’t stand for it.
Koepka was clinging to his lead for six holes, making all sorts of scrambling pars then a birdie at six got him to 17-under and perhaps that $15 million was coming into focus.
It all ended on the seventh tee. It was there that Koepka hit a big hook, deep into the forest primeval left of the fairway. No spectators, only woods dwellers. No way they’d find that one in three minutes and Koepka was forced to play his provisional. He’d end up with double-bogey while Rory made birdie — three shot swing. Beginning of the end for Brooks, beginning of the big win for Rory.
A birdie at the eighth gave the world’s No. 1 some false hope but then three straight back-nine bogeys starting at the 12th, sent him reeling.
This time McIlroy was up to the task. He birdied 12 and 13 to build his lead as high as four shots, then the pressure of $15 million saw him come up with two straight bogeys, giving brief hope to Xander Scauffele. But that was short-lived. Schauffele, like Brooks, struggled to find fairways most of the day and he watched as McIlroy finished birdie-birdie to win it all.
Good news is that Rory would have won outright, without the controversial spotting of strokes. Schauffele would have finished second, no matter how they figure it. It all came out in the wash.
“He got one over on me in Memphis and I wanted to get some revenge today,” McIlroy said matter-of-factly about going head-to-head with Koepka. “My goal this week was to shoot the lowest score.” He meant lowest score, regardless of those “strokes.” He did just that. His total was 13-under, Schauffele was 10-under if they did this like a normal, real-world golf tournament.
“Such a cool way to end what for me has been a great season,” said McIlroy, who closed with a 66, six shots better than the stumbling Koepka, who couldn’t find a fairway to save his life. “To win three times is awesome. I feel I could have won more. I’m gonna enjoy this tonight.”
Darn right he’s gonna enjoy this.
He has 15 million reasons to enjoy it.
And one bigger one.
He got the absolute best of Koepka. Flat out undressed him on that back nine.
Out-drove him, out-ironed him, out-putted him.
One year ago, Rory watched as playing partner Tiger Woods basked in victory’s glory.
Sunday, there was no Tiger, only Rory.
“It’s amazing how different things can be in a year,” McIlroy pointed out.
Isn’t that the truth.
Tour Championship Final Scoreboard:
The biggest winners: McIlroy: $15 million; Schauffele: $5 million; Koepka, J. Thomas: $3.5 million; Casey: $2.5 million; A. Scott: $1.9 million; Finau: $1.3 million; Reavie: $1.1 million.
6 Comments
baxter cepeda
A lot of guys talk a big game about not caring about the money, when their actions clearly show otherwise.
Rory says it too but no one is clutch like Rory at Easy lake. What he did when he won last time was the clutches thing I’ve ever seen. This year was almost easier for him.
I deeply appreciate Rory mentioning who had the lowest strokes, which fittingly was him and second lowest actual strokes was the guy whom finished second. If this isn’t proof the pga tour should take that extra step and just make it an even race to finish, I don’t know what will be. Again, in sports usually the best man wins so top athletes do not need special care from organizers.
The fed ex is slightly improved but it still needs to make some critical changes.
The major knock in this tournament is that even with the leader JT dropping off, too many guys are just too out of it. We got big names on top but we also got big names out of contention all week. And we also had one huge Major winner, and another major winner, not even here.
I feel for JT being the guinea pig in all this. If anyone has ever played golf being given strokes, it’s a bit of a curse. I would rather get no strokes than one or two strokes because it would allow me to just focus on playing. JT was clearly uncomfortable in his position. Guys will get more used to this. But at the end of the day I don’t think they even want that slight edge and the giant bullseye that comes with it.
Overall it was good entertainment, but the golf show was stolen by what seemed to be the clumsy arrival of the latest marvel character, assuming it’s a bad guy. What a shot they got of that lightning strike. With all due respect to all the great stuff Rory did this week, that’s what we will remember. And hopefully we golfers do remember to take care of ourselves playing or spectating anytime lightning is around. The pga tour wasn’t negligent here but they definitely could take lightning safety to the next level after this.
See you next week for a whole new season
Tom.
Tom Edrington
I’m just glad that Kooch The Caddie Mooch had a crappy week!
baxter cepeda
I want to add :
I am in love with the rough at East Lake.
It’s alway great but this week seems like the golden time of year.
Rolf put it best when he said the rough created compelling stuff but he is not sure if the fans prefer bombs away golf.
This golf fan prefers exactly what we got at East Lake.
The contrast between rough and fairway was awesome. The variety of Bermuda challenges was just great for a championship like this.
For recreational golf I’m not a big fan of golf balls disappearing 3 yards off the fairway, but only because ball searches slow down pace and therefore enjoyment.
But in championships with staff, Volunteers and thousands of fans around to help find most balls, sorry Brooks, rough like East Lake is exactly what golf needs.
Golf needs tough rough to slow down these great guys rendering courses obsolete; and honestly dumbing down the game.
East Lake is a true championship test, which makes golf better. I think current golf fans have a desire for more tests like this.
In fact Is it just me or is East Lake ready for a major ?
Tom Edrington
U.S. Open, no, PGA no, they will not play a major where there’s a regular tour event, remember how Quail Hollow had to move the event there?
baxter cepeda
I do remember they did have a major there at quail and I’m sure they will do it again. They also have majors at Pebble.
Ive always preferred majors north or west locations, but east Lakes Bermuda is changing my mind; as did quail hollow.
This week taught me these days The pga tour show can be at its best with tough Bermuda rough like east lakes.
Tom Edrington
One reason Congressional got rid of the tour event there is that the USGA won’t play a US Open where there’s a tour event, the PGA of America will but the USGA thumbs its noses at the notion.