Rory McIlroy charged from behind for another impressive win on Monday, coming from three strokes back of third-round leader Louis Oosthuizen to win the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston.
The No. 1 player in the world shot a 4-under par 67 to win for the third time this year. The Northern Irish star is one of only two players on tour this year to win three tournaments, along with Tiger Woods.
He got off to a fast start on Monday, shooting four birdies in the first six holes.
McIlroy held off a host of big-name players, including Woods, Phil Mickelson and Oosthuizen, who finished one shot off the lead. The South African Oosthuizen missed two putts on the final two holes, leaving McIlroy as the last man standing.
Once McIlroy got the lead, he was never overtaken. The 23-year-old made a slew of difficult shots in the final round, including two putts to save par. McIlroy finished the tournament at 20-under 264.
"I had a couple of wobbles coming in, but I obviously did enough and I'm very excited to get a victory," McIlroy said to the Associated Press.
With six holes left to play, McIlroy held off Oosthuizen with a three-shot lead and converted on a bogey putt on the 17th green that kept the South African at bay.
Woods also had a solid final round, shooting a 66, which left him at third place with a score of 18-under. He started the day at six shots behind the leader. Woods also hit a milestone at the tournament, passing $100 million in PGA Tour earnings, a record amount for any player.
McIlroy's wins this year have come at the Honda Classic and at the PGA Championship, which he won by a record eight shots. He stands as the favorite to win the Player of the Year award.
McIlroy won the tournament the week after his girlfriend, former No. 1 tennis player in the world Caroline Wozniacki, was defeated in the first round of the U.S. Open against Irina-Camelia Begu in straight sets. The tennis star was at the Deutsche Bank Championship to show support and to cheer on her boyfriend.
Other notable finishes include Phil Mickelson, who finished with a 66 and tied for fourth place, as well as fellow American Dustin Johnson who shot a 70 at 15-under.
McIlroy has emerged as one of the best players in all of golf this past year, after winning the 2011 U.S. Open for his first major championship. He won that tournament by eight shots and also won this years' PGA Championship by the same margin.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
