The 27-year-old earned his 12th career PGA Tour win, the third-youngest player to accomplish the feat in Tour history.
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Well, those halcyon days are over and so, apparently, are McIlroy’s putting woes.
He already was 4-over-par and had every reason to believe this tournament was headed for an outcome that was becoming far too familiar for a player of his class.
The good news is that he’s bounced back in a big way, playing the next 51 holes in 13 under, including a third-round 5-under 66 on Sunday that moved him into contention for his first PGA Tour win of the season.
“It is fantastic to think how I started this tournament and what was going through my mind after three holes, and then all of a sudden standing here four days later with a trophy”, he said about the bogey and triple that featured in his opening three holes.
“Things can turn around pretty quickly in this game”, the new World Number Three said after his win.
McIlroy, who shot 19 under for his final 69 holes, said: “From three holes in – four over par – there were a lot of things going through my mind, and one of them was not winning this tournament”.
“I have got great memories of going to Crooked Stick – hopefully I can go and emulate what I did there”, said the 27-year-old of the IN course that stages the BMW Championship from Thursday. This goes in the books as his 12th PGA TOUR victory but first since the 2015 Wells Fargo Championship.
McIlroy made it three straight birdies with an assured 10-foot putt at nine to complete an outward 31, although he mis-read a great chance from seven feet at the 11th before atoning at the next.
McIlroy has added a substantial amount of muscle to his frame over the last number of years, with Nick Faldo one of many analysts to question whether such gym work is necessary for the four-time Major victor to fulfill his potential as a golfer. Among those who moved into the top 70 was David Hearn of Canada, who came into the week at No. 92.
Casey finished in second spot, one shot clear of Jimmy Walker in third. Hearn closed with a 70 and tied for eighth. When he last won the Deutsche Bank, four years ago, he proceeded to lift another trophy at Crooked Stick.
Click on the video above to watch McIlroy’s putting progress!
“I just had positive vibes going in there”.
“If I wasn’t in the gym, I wouldn’t be sitting here today”, McIlroy said from TPC Boston.
“A few putts go your way, get a little bit of confidence, start rolling them in, start feeling good about yourself”.
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But the affable Englishman, who elected not to take up European Tour membership this year, did not count on McIlroy’s storming finish.
