Pebble Beach, California – Rory McILroy played an almost magnificent game as the landscape of Pebble Beach on Sunday while he was heading in front of a pack of contenders and closed with a 66 under 66 for a two -stroke victory in AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Pro -uis.
McILroy is one of the main attractions of golf, which has only added to the attraction of the surprising Sunshine and Crasthing Surf on the most famous American coastal golf course. And just like that, a sleepy start for the PGA Tour season had a life.
One day when six players had at least a share of the head, McILroy took first place for good with a 18 -foot sneak putt on the 10th hole in a steep breeze along the Pacific. He effectively finished the drama with an imposing journey and an iron at 7 in the 14th hole of 571 yards, installing an eagle putt just outside 25 feet.
“Winning to one of the golf cathedrals is really cool,” said McILroy.
Shane Lowry fell on the one hand for the head when he sent his second shot on a cliff to the right of the sixth by 5. But he pulled 31 on the nine rear, including a birdie on the last hole for a 68 which gave him second place.
Lucas Glover (67) and Justin Rose (68) were another blow behind. Sepp Straka, who started the final round with an advance at a blow, had a 72 and tied in the seventh.
Scottie Scheffler, player No. 1 of the world whose season has been delayed by minor surgery in the hand of the punctuated glass while making ravioli, closed with a 67 and equal to the ninth.
McILroy talked about what was an important year for him, although his goal was more April to September – an 11th chance of ending the Grand Salm career in the Masters, a return to Northern Ireland for the British Open, A Road Ryder Cup with Bethpage.
It was not a bad start.
“It’s a really cool way to start the season,” said McILroy, who won for the second time in California. “To get this victory so early, it means a lot, and I hope I will keep the momentum in Torrey Pines in a few weeks.”
The sixth hole began to separate the bag a little. In consecutive groups, Rose crossed the cliff with her starting coup and Tom Kim struck the hill to the ocean with his second blow. Lowry followed him in the final group, leading to Bogey.
But really, McILroy seemed to be the player to beat from the second hole, when he struck a difficult ground at 50 meters on a bunker with a rear pin with enough height and to turn to install a birdie putt of 2 feet.
But it was after his only Bogey on the eighth hard hole where he moved away – the 18 -foot birdie on the 10th, a tee shot in 8 feet for birdie on the 12th par -3 and finally get his due on the 14th hole. McILroy pierced his journey for the third consecutive day on a tree, on the Bunker complex and in the fairway. The previous two days, he had to be satisfied with the peer.
This time, he conceded an eagle, extending his lead to four shots. And when he hit a 3 -foot corner for Birdie on the 15th, it led to one of the best stress -free and magnificent walks of the PGA Tour.
Everyone was left in a hopeless pursuit.
“When it’s good, it’s great. And when it’s not great, it’s good, ”said Glover. “There is a reason why he obtained around twenty victories and a bunch of majors and the game he has. Impressive round out there today under pressure and under the conditions. »»
McILroy won the tour for the 27th time and is 21st on the list of career victories. He was stuck out of four majors since he won the PGA championship 11 years ago, and he is sure that he remembers as the Masters are getting closer.
For the moment, it will do the trick. It was his second victory in a signature event that McILroy and other best players helped create.
“When it is good, it is great and when it is not great, it is good,” said Glover. “There is a reason why he obtained around twenty victories and a bunch of majors and the game he has. Impressive round out there today under pressure and under the conditions. »»
McILroy won his second signature event – he won at Quail Hollow last year – to win $ 3.6 million. He finished 21 under 267, a shot to be far from the tournament record.
Lowry has at least tried to make him sweat, remaining within reach until a 7 -foot sneak out on the 17th hole that would have reduced the gap to two. His latest Birdie, however, gave him a tidy consolation of $ 2.16 million for second place.
“I always say that I believe that when players like Rory McILroy present themselves and they have their game” A “, they are quite impossible to beat,” said Lowry.
