Unfortunately, 2018 will end without a major championship for Rory McIlroy.
The 29-year-old Holywood native has featured in golf’s biggest events this year. A tie for fifth at The Masters was bettered with his runner-up spot at The Open Championship.
And while the four-time major winner is too far back to clinch the PGA Championship at Bellerive, he has certainly put on a show for the galleries during the early part of the round.
McIlroy started the final round at -2, ten shots off leader Brooks Koepka. Perhaps loosened up by the knowledge that he can’t mount a serious challenge, the 2014 PGA Champion seemed relaxed and in good spirits Sunday evening.
He also pulled off a series of outrageous shots to get the roars reverberating around the St. Louis course before Koepka, Tiger Woods and co take to the fairways in the final pairings.
McIlroy’s first piece of magic was holing a monster putt for birdie on the fourth.
Rory… from 50+ feet. 😳🐦#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/QcFzmNYW9i
— PGA of America (@PGA) August 12, 2018
Then, at nine, he judged his chip from just off the green to perfection.
A little magic from Rory on #9! 🐦#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/cIweqghIVt
— PGA of America (@PGA) August 12, 2018
But McIlroy wasn’t done there. His best shot of the evening was unquestionably a stunning recovery from deep within the trees on the 11th. In the clip below, the camera can’t even locate McIlroy among the gallery but it’s not long before we see the ball emerge, bounce up beside the flag and check brilliantly, prompting a huge cheer from the crowd.
Can you spot @McIlroyRory? 😅#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/cbPjuuxHWM
— PGA of America (@PGA) August 12, 2018
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