The 2012 Deutsche Bank Championship victor claimed his second career victory at TPC Boston thanks to going 19-under for the rest of his time in Norton, Mass., including an impressive 6-under-par 65 in extremely windy conditions during Monday’s final round to finish at 15-under.
Advertisement
McIlroy, whose last win came at the Wells Fargo Championship in May 2015, shot seven birdies and one bogey to seal his 12th PGA Tour victory.
Despite starting the day six shots off the lead, McIlroy carded brilliant final round 65 to finish on 15-under par and two shots clear of England’s Paul Casey.
World No. 9 Patrick Reed (69) tied for fifth with 18-hole co-leader James Hahn (69) and Argentina’s Fabian Gomez (69), five off the mark. It’s been a great lesson for me this week not to get down on myself, to stay patient.
There’s no doubt Kenyon, who also works with the likes of Open champions Henrik Stenson and Louis Oosthuizen, is a keen teacher; but after just two weeks of working with McIlroy, it’s fair to say even the Englishman recognizes the depth of Monday’s accomplishments.
“I had 212 yards back into the wind”.
His putting, which has so often let him down when he needed it most, was on fire as he rolled in several key putts on his way to victory, with his switch to a new Scotty Cameron putter undoubtedly a positive change.
On the flipside of McIlroy’s glee, Casey squandered a chance at his long-awaited second PGA Tour win.
Rory McIlroy is hoping his good form in the Deutsche Bank Championship can help Europe win the 2016 Ryder Cup.
McIlroy, who missed the cut in the PGA Championship and was an afterthought last week when the FedEx Cup playoffs began, already was 4-over-par just three holes into this tournament at the TPC Boston. “I have won Race to Dubais and I have won order of merits and been a money victor on the PGA Tour but never lifted the FedEx Cup itself”, McIlroy said.
“I don’t know if any criticism is unfair”, McIlroy said.
The Northern Irishman’s victory elevated him from 38th to fourth in the FedExCup standings heading into the BMW Championship this week and the world number three is hungry for more success in what has been an underwhelming year.
For McIlroy, who has been restored to No3 in the world, 2016 will pass without a major title.
“I finished bogey-double bogey and kind of played my way out of the tournament (last Friday at The Barclays)”.
“A few putts go your way, get a little bit of confidence, start rolling them in, start feeling good about yourself”.
Advertisement
The top 70 in the standings now move forward to the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick next week.
