NORTON, Mass. – In the 477 days between Rory McIlroy’s last PGA Tour victory and his ultra-impressive, come-from-behind triumph at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday afternoon, he’s been the subject of massive critical analysis.
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Casey had registered three consecutive rounds of 66 to lead going into the final day but struggled in the windy conditions and ended with a two-over-par round of 73.
US PGA Championship victor Jimmy Walker finished third on 12 under after a second successive 70 while Adam Scott ended with three straight birdies to match McIlroy’s 65 and take fourth on 11 under.
“I am really proud of myself for battling that first day, getting some momentum on Saturday and just going with that”.
It was McIlroy’s first victory since clearing Patrick Rodgers and Webb Simpson by seven shots at the 2015 Wells Fargo Championship.
He reached 15 under after birdieing No. 12, but dropped a shot with his first bogey at No. 17.
McIlroy was four over par through three holes before rallying for his first PGA Tour victory this year.
He changed his putter – from a Nike Method Origin blade to a Scotty Cameron for Titleist Newport M1 prototype – last week at The Barclays and recently brought on a new putting coach – Phil Kenyon, Henrik Stenson’s guy.
With a stirring win at the blustery Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday, McIlroy offered a refresher course in his greatness and reminded any captious critics that any discussion of the best player in the game must include him.
It is the first PGA Tour title he has claimed in 16 months.
Reed retains the FedEx Cup lead after this week, but McIlroy jumps from 38th to fourth, ensuring a trip to the Tour Championship in a year that had given him so much trouble.
“I found my game a little bit on the back nine”, said Scott.
Casey threw away two shots early in the round with a poor chip on the par-5 second hole and a three-putt bogey on the fifth. He played the remaining 15 holes in 4 under and then posted progressive scores of 67-66-65, all while pointing to that Friday comeback as the key component.
On the 14th hole, Casey was preparing to address a almost 42-foot birdie putt when the whipping wind forced to him stop and let out a “Wow” at the gusty conditions.
He said: “Winning the FedEx Cup is one of the last things I want on my CV – I’ve won Majors, made it to world No 1 and won the European money list so that’s the next one”.
The top 70 players in the standings now go forward to the BMW Championship.
“I found it incredibly hard out there …”
The 27-year-old rises to fourth in the FedEx Cup standings ahead of next week’s BMW Championship, the third of four play-off events at the end of the American gold season.
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The world No.5’s bunker play was brilliant yesterday, while his putting, a cause of frustration in the recent past, was solid.
