Monday golf!
It’s something that never really sat well with people on this side of the world.
We’re a bunch of sports fans who are used to lazy Sunday evenings in front of TV, drowning out the realisation that we need to go back to work the following morning. Sitting behind a desk, closely following the final round on Twitter just never seems quite right.
Oh how Monday golf loves the Irish though!
Such a rare event it is but today under the heat of the Boston sun with the Deutsche Bank Championship on the line, a rejuvenated Rory McIlroy became the third Irishman to win a PGA tour event on a Monday, following in the footsteps of Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell.
Starting the day 6 back from Paul Casey, McIlroy caught fire early and hit 5 birdies on the front-9 to turn in 31. His putting, which has been much improved all week, was back to its best and quick birdies on 2 & 4 helped to instil some confidence from the outset.
Casey struggled throughout the round to really get anything going and lost momentum early on, dropping shots at the second and the fifth. He fought until the end and rallied in the closing holes to mount a challenge, but this was always going to be Rory’s day.
His ball striking throughout was immaculate and apart from a single blemish on 17, McIlroy seemed pretty comfortable for the duration of the round. A superb bunker shot on 18 all but ensured a two stroke victory and another remarkable final round finish from the Holywood man who’s ended his drought of 477 days without a win on tour. He seemed to be back to his best, in the zone throughout, and what a joy to watch it was.
5 birdies. 0 bogeys.
Rory McIlroy opened with a 31 today. https://t.co/DYfsdbWEj9
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 5, 2016
Every now and then, McIlroy just seems to have one of those days where everything goes right. One of those days where every area of his game hits its peak. This was one of them. He was unstoppable.
Close, but no cigar… https://t.co/M2w0yoH6T3
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 5, 2016
Credit has to be given to Phil Kenyon who has been working closely with McIlroy over the last couple of weeks to improve his putting stroke.
Having sat back in 134th spot in overall putting stats for the year, he finished the Deutsche Bank Championship in 3rd place overall for strokes gained from putting. It’s the stat that’s likely to please him the most despite total control of his game from tee-to-green.
It’s been an encouraging weekend. Rory McIlroy might not have won a major this year, but he’s put himself in a strong position to win quite possibly the next best thing in the FedEx Cup and, more importantly, he’s peaked right in time to send some shockwaves through the American camp in the build-up to the Ryder Cup.
Golf just got a lot more exciting.
The GAA Hour Hurling Show relives Tipperary’s sensational All-Ireland victory with Paidí Maher. Listen below or Subscribe here on iTunes.
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