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McIlroy wins PGA Championship for back-to-back major victories

Published

10 years ago

Aug 10, 2014

The PGA of America must be smiling broadly. It produced the intriguing, unexpected tournament denouement that the Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship wish they might have offered in 2014. Understand that Bubba Watson, Martin Kaymer and Rory McIlroy turned in wonderful performances to claim major championships in 2014; the only knock is that they did it (for the most part) in Secretariat fashion.

Two fellows with decent track records, playing together, set a standard for Sunday scoring. Ernie Els and Jimmy Walker each improved six strokes on par by round’s end with 65’s, jumping from top-25 starts to top-10 finishes. Each golfer made seven birdies against one bogey, hinting at the dramatics that would ensue as the round evolved.

If one had polled the PGA brass on Monday for a list of names to be mixed into the final day’s cauldron, certainly Mickelson, Fowler, Stenson and McIlroy would have figured into everyone’s list. Fowler and Stenson were hunting for their first major championships and both of them reached fifteen-under par through thirteen holes. Both were undone by the demanding hole No. 14 par 3, playing to a healthy 217 yards. After Stenson completed the front nine in 30 strokes, and Fowler in 32, both anticipated the chance to claim the elusive, Grand Slam title.

“It’s good watching, good television and good for the crowds out there,” Stenson said about Sunday’s shootout. “Regardless who is up there, you want to see good golf and see birdies and the lead being changed back and forth. That is the exciting part. I think we gave them that. So I’m pleased to be part of that.”

Both evidently gave all they had on the outward half, as they came home with one birdie and one bogey each for matching, even-par inward nines. Tied for third at 14-under par, both left Louisville with a bitter aftertaste.

Phil Mickelson, some said, played golf on the PGA Tour this year. It was hard to support that claim, given Lefty’s track record of late. Phil had missed the cut at Augusta and turned in mid-20s performances in the other two major championships. His best finishes to date had been T11 in Charlotte and Memphis.

“Driving, short irons were terrible this year as a whole,” said Mickelson. “Perfect example is the wedge shot on 4. That’s right up my alley. I’m trying to hole that half the time and I’m hitting it 18 feet…I can’t let that happen anymore.”

Mickelson also started hot, posting five birdies in his first eleven holes to reach fifteen under. After leaving his approach shot below the front-left bunker on 16, Mickelson’s magic ran out as he failed to get up and down for par. Phil nearly forced a playoff as his 70-feet chip for eagle came tantalizingly close to dropping, ending a mere 13 inches from the promised land.

In the end, as at Congressional in 2011, Kiawah in 2012 and Hoylake in 2014, Rory McIlroy was able to make shots where others failed, to emerge with a win and a fourth major championship. Understand, though, that he did his best to let someone else take the title. The northern Irishman played his first six holes in two-over par, then took the first of two par-five risks that would result in his ascent to the top of the field. Eschewing the wider, right fairway as most did this week, McIlroy was able to reach green side in two. He pitched up to the hole for a short birdie putt, which he converted, to remain in the chase.

Three holes later, after Mickelson and Fowler had laid up just in front of him (although Fowler did make birdie), Rory McIlroy smashed a drive into the heart of the fairway. With a chance to reach the green in two, he smoked a three-metal at the left side of the green. As if on command, the ball took two or three hard bounces, climbed the high left edge and angled down toward the hole, concluding its journey a mere seven feet from the hole. Was there any doubt in anyone’s mind that the eagle putt would drop? Of course not, and it did. McIlroy appreciated its significance:

“The eagle on 10 was massive,” McIlroy said. “I think the birdie on 7 really settled me down. I started the round very tentatively. I just didn’t really have it…But the eagle on 10 just changed everything.”

And then came the essence of competition, the final six holes. Rory McIlroy played them in two-under par. Mickelson and Stenson were even and Fowler was one over. In a tournament where the razor’s edge represented the difference between hazard and safety, defeat and victory, McIlroy balanced on it better than all comers. As the tournament closed, so many similarities came to mind:

McIlroy begins to remind us of Tiger Woods in his prime, finding a way to close the deal, albeit without the dynamic fist-pumps and roof-raising;
Fowler resembles the unsuccessful Phil Mickelson, trying without success to capture a major title in the face of an all-time great;

“It was definitely emotional as soon as I finished up as far as I really felt like I could win today and to come up a bit short and obviously not to make birdie on the last at least, obviously I wanted to make 3 there, but disappointed right now,” Fowler said.

Mickelson might be another coming of Raymond Floyd or Jack Nicklaus, with major titles left despite reaching the wrong side of 40;
Stenson, the mercurial Swede, might be another Jesper Parnevik, without the funky cap

Buoyed by the play of Mickelson, Fowler, Jimmy Walker and Jim Furyk on the USA side, and McIlroy, Stenson, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose under the European flag, the 2014 Ryder Cup should certainly provide similar, crunch-time performances next month at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Click here to see McIlroy’s Winning WITB.

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Ronald Montesano

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

27 Comments

Ballstriker

Aug 11, 2014 at 8:49 pm

Uhhh……that would be “our” friends. My Language Skills 12 teacher is rolling wherever she may be sleeping.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Aug 12, 2014 at 4:18 pm
  
  ???
  
  Reply Report comment
Jimmy

Aug 11, 2014 at 4:41 pm

I was pulling for rickie what an amazing round of golf it was glued to the tube until the end .great rounds !!!!!!

Reply Report comment
WB

Aug 11, 2014 at 2:48 pm

The Nike Era of domination continues!

Reply Report comment
- Archie Bunker
  
  Aug 11, 2014 at 4:18 pm
  
  He’s paid big bucks to play them. If somebody offered more, he’d switch in an instant. He has the talent to win with any brand. I’m not going to buy Nike just because Tiger and Rory win with Nike.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - MGX
    
    Aug 11, 2014 at 6:48 pm
    
    Maybe not you, but there are thousands of others who will buy Nike clubs because of Rory and Tiger.
    
    Reply Report comment
- MHendon
  
  Aug 11, 2014 at 5:51 pm
  
  Yep it’s not the clubs. But Nike probably has deeper pockets then any other company in the golf business.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Paul
    
    Aug 11, 2014 at 7:54 pm
    
    you ever watched formula 1 ?
    
    deepest pockets helps a lot with creating quality equipment, nike just needs another new big company to jump into the golf business so they’re no longer the hated new boy.
    
    i play an SLDR but my mates covert 2.0 tour looks/sounds/goes good and if i had more disposable i’d get one myself
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Archie Bunker
      
      Aug 12, 2014 at 11:22 am
      
      Nike is more interested in selling golf shirts, shoes and sneakers. The golf club business is only there to have the pros parade around the logo. In spite of years of Tiger, Nike club sales haven’t been all that great. But they probably sold a lot of red shirts.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - MHendon
        
        Aug 13, 2014 at 12:25 am
        
        I think Nike might be playing the long term strategy on golf club sales. I bet in the next 10 to 20 years they’ll become one of the biggest equipment sellers in the business.
        
        Reply Report comment
Pingback: McIlroy wins PGA Championship for back-to-back major victories | Spacetimeandi.com
MHendon

Aug 11, 2014 at 11:22 am

The thing about Rory being the next great champion is he’s actually got a personality and comes across as a humble, likable guy. Here’s hoping that doesn’t change.

Reply Report comment
- Archie Bunker
  
  Aug 12, 2014 at 4:36 pm
  
  Also hope that he never finds the need to have his swing “fixed” by some mechanic, like Ledbetter or Foley. Great swing, Rory – it’s yours!
  
  Reply Report comment
Martin

Aug 11, 2014 at 6:51 am

Great job Rory, one of the most entertaining final rounds I can remember.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Aug 11, 2014 at 8:42 am
  
  It was something, wasn’t it? You had that sense, when Ernie and Jimmy twinned 65s, that there were shots out there. Weird how that golf course seems to have the magic brew for hold-on-to-your-seat finishes.
  
  Reply Report comment
Tour

Aug 11, 2014 at 3:52 am

Why we have two majors within a 2-week period is, way beyond me. I don’t understand it. They should spread it out, one in each month, instead of the Tours succumbing to TV and sponsor money to let the other tour events dominate the calendar on the dates when they want to have it. The whole tour should rotate around the majors, and therefore the majors should be spread out, one a month, from April through July.
If the industry wants to revamp golf for the masses, this is not the way to do it.

Nonetheless, congratulations to a great player.

Reply Report comment
- MHendon
  
  Aug 11, 2014 at 11:18 am
  
  Hmmm Masters is in April, U.S. Open is in June, British Open July, and the PGA August. So the problem is??????????????? Oh and the so called 5th major the Players is in May.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Ronald Montesano
    
    Aug 11, 2014 at 8:33 pm
    
    Agreed…don’t understand this complaint. Can’t go head to head with NBA or NHL championships. Can’t go head to head with NFL. They do what they can.
    
    Reply Report comment
Congrats

Aug 11, 2014 at 3:27 am

Well done Rors! You showed the world how it’s done on the back 9 of that place! You own that back 9. Congratulations.

Reply Report comment
Costas

Aug 11, 2014 at 1:58 am

*Hoylake in 2014, Lytham was 2012 when Ernie won.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Aug 11, 2014 at 6:39 am
  
  Thanks, Costas. Got my links confused.
  
  Reply Report comment
marcel

Aug 11, 2014 at 12:30 am

Rory played amazing golf and pulled a lot to win this one… Phil made only few mistakes on the day 4 but Golf is about 4 days… Rickie will have his time soon… but might be little unlucky in the presence of Rory / Kaymer / Watson… when they are on they are on

Reply Report comment
Christosterone

Aug 11, 2014 at 12:20 am

THAT. WAS. AWESOME…
Wow was that a spectacular Sunday.
Thank you to Rory, Phi., Rickie, Stenson and everyone else who played today giving us across the land so much joy.
I tend to root for Americans but Mr. McIlroy is hard to root against.

Keep swinging them young lad and keep seeking the wisdom of Jack, Trevino, Watson, Floyd, Tiger, Els, Phil, Faldo and all the great Major achievers so you can one day be spoken of with the 3 or 4 men who in all of history you stand(possibly) next to as giants among men…

But stop missing so many cuts…lol

You were an artist today, Mr. McIlroy…thank you for giving this to us viewers…we are grateful

Reply Report comment
- MHendon
  
  Aug 11, 2014 at 11:34 am
  
  Rory’s gonna keep missing cuts and that’s alright. Just as long as he doesn’t become obsessed with changing his swing to avoid missing cuts like someone else we all know. He’s streaky but when he’s on he’s amazing!
  
  Reply Report comment
cb

Aug 10, 2014 at 11:50 pm

attaboy rory!

Reply Report comment
- Ballstriker
  
  Aug 11, 2014 at 1:30 am
  
  Spectacular finish! The excitement of all these guys trading paint (NASCAR term for our brothers up north) down the stretch was some of the best I’ve seen since watching Mike Donald and Hale Irwin duke it out back in ’90 for The U.S. Open at Medinah. My first major as a golf fan. Where’d the time go?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Ronald Montesano
    
    Aug 11, 2014 at 8:40 am
    
    Hah! We have NASCAR up here, Striker. Do appreciate the clarification, though. It was the best major of the year, by far, despite attempts by journalists to disparage the course, the conditions and those who would challenge Rory.
    
    Reply Report comment

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