Over the long Labor Day weekend, McIlroy managed to answer three big questions. It was hard to count out anyone with a forecast for 35 miles per hour wind and burst of showers from the remnants of Hermine due in New England.
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Among the first to congratulate McIlroy was his newly married manager Sean O’Flaherty, while Darren Clarke would be sure to be among those quick to send a congratulatory text to the leading Hazeltine qualifier.
Day’s round included five birdies and an eagle, but a double bogey on the 10th hole stalled any chance he had of getting into a position to challenge on the final day. Starting the third round just three shots behind, Johnson stumbled to a 75 and was 11 shots back.
Paul Casey shot 2-over to finish second at 13-under.
South African Louis Oosthuizen also made a significant move up the leaderboard yesterday, shooting a seven-under par 64 to join McIlroy at nine-under.
His only bogey of the day came on the par-four 17th but he responded perfectly on the last, picking up his seventh birdie of the day with a short putt, after playing a magnificent shot from the green-side bunker.
Speaking to Sky Sports, McIlroy said: “It was a great way to finish the round especially after the six at 12”. “It’s been a great lesson for me this week not to get down on myself, to stay patient”. I think I’m just happy that everyone’s healthy.
“It is nice to get that first win in the States this year and hopefully this momentum I can obviously bring on to the next couple of weeks and ultimately the Ryder Cup to help team Europe win another”.
Casey, who began the day with a three-shot lead on 15 under, had to settle for second after carding a two-over-par 73.
Scott and Day are both well in the mix to become the first Australians to win the season long race, Scott a former victor of the Tour Championship the year before the FedEx Cup began in 2007. Actually, the Northern Irishman could have gone even lower than 65 on Monday, as he missed 7-foot birdie putts at Nos.
McIlroy fired a 6-under 65 Monday in windy final-round conditions at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass., to storm from six behind to a much-needed victory at the Deutsche Bank Championship. Casey had a 60-foot eagle putt on the final hole that would have forced a playoff. McIlroy also switched putters last week at Bethpage Black, though he was at the bottom of the pack in putting.
“There’s still things we’re missing and it hurts”, said Casey. “It shows you just how good Rory is”. I found something. I still need to keep going with it. “I never felt like I had any rhythm”.
The win has earned McIlroy a winner’s cheque of over 1.5 million dollars and sends him up to fourth place in the FedEx Cup standings. Scott picked up valuable points and is fifth in the standings with two events left in the play-offs.
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The BMW Championship runs September 8-11 at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Indiana.
