Rory McIlroy started his final round a shot behind World No.1 Brooks Koepka. He ended up burning him off with five holes to play.
There may have been another calendar year without a Major victory but Rory McIlroy has claimed the most lucrative prize in golf.
The Holywood native clinched the FedEx Cup for winning The Tour Championship after a seriously impressive final round in Atlanta, Georgia.
McIlroy was always in the mix at the East Lake course after opening rounds of 66 and 67. He carded a 68 in his weather-interrupted third round and was in the final pairing with Koepka, a man that has had his number of late.
It was pars all the way for the 30-year-old until his putter heated up on six and seven:
Rory McIlroy is -2 up in the $15m FedEx Championship with 6 to play… pic.twitter.com/mRmeZByjJn
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 25, 2019
Xander Schaffele made an early charge and, when Koepka bogeyed three holes in a row, he was the only player left in the field capable of taking the $15m first prize from McIlroy.
That looked unlikely when McIlroy led by four with five holes to play but he proceeded to drop shots on 14 and 15 and leave the door ajar for Schauffele. McIlroy, meanwhile, was dialled all the way in:
Rory McIlroy, when he's dialled in he's a joy to watch… pic.twitter.com/wLMBY2scUW
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) August 25, 2019
McIlroy looked in danger of dropping a third consecutive shot on 16 when he erred with his drive.
He eventually left himself with a long par putt but he held his nerve to drain it:
CLUTCH!!
Rory McIlroy with a massive par save on 16. 2 clear with 2 to go…pic.twitter.com/bSj4104N06
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 25, 2019
Buoyed by that, McIlroy was back in the groove and he all but sealed his tour championship triumph by carving up the 17th and sinking his fifth birdie of the round.
The four-time major winner, who also claimed The Players Championship this year, sealed his second Tour Championship title, and a heap of prize-money, with a booming drive down the 18th fairway and a sweet birdie to finish four clear on -18.
Schauffele (-14) ended up with a not inconsiderable runners-up cheque of $5m while Justin Thomas and Koepka were tied for third on -12. The Americans will split $7m for that honour in a tournament that sees even the last placed golfer bank a shade under $400k.
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