Rory McIlroy not only became the second youngest World No.1 but he’s achieved many other milestones with his two-shot victory in the Honda Classic.
* McIlroy at 61 days short of his 23rd birthday becomes the second youngest World No. 1 behind Tiger Woods who was aged 21 years and 5 1/2 months old in moving to No. 1 in mid-June 1997.
* McIlroy also becomes the first Irish born player to be crowned World No. 1.
Rory McIlroy one round away from becoming second-youngest World No. 1.
* McIlroy had been ranked 805th in July that year despite being an amateur in finishing in a share of 42nd place in the British Open won by fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington.
* McIlroy turned pro on 20th September, 2007 at the British Masters but it was not to he secured a share of third place with Scotland’s Paul Lawrie at the Alfred Dunhill Links a fortnight later he was given the official world ranking as a pro of 308th in the world.
* McIlroy is the second Irishman to capture the Honda Classic after Padraig Harrington won the event in 2005.
* McIlroy captures also his fifth pro career victory after winning 2009 Omega Dubai Desert Classic, 2010 Quail Hollow Championship and the 2011 U.S. Open and UBS Hong Kong Open.
* It also means McIlroy has won at least one tournament every year since his pro debut success in the 2009 Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
* It will be third occasion McIlroy has won an event when when leading going to the last day – 2009 Omega Dubai Desert Classic, 2011 U.S. Open and 2012 Honda Classic.
* He collected a first prize cheque of $US 1.026m and take his 2012 PGA season earnings to $US 1,876,000 in only two events after finishing runner-up a week earlier in the WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship.
* His total career earnings in PGA Tour counting events since 2009 is $US 7,285,505 in prizemoney.
* Whe becomes the 21st winner of a Major Championship to have also won the Honda Classic joining the likes of Jack Nicklaus (1977-78), Lee Trevino (1973), Johnnie Miller (1980, 1983), Corey Pavin (1992), Fred Couples (1993), Nick Price (1994), Mark O’Meara (1995) and Todd Hamilton (2004).
* McIlroy also matches the great Jack Nicklaus who by age 23 had also won a U.S. Open along with four pro career successes.
* And McIlroy also is level with Australia’s Greg Norman who also had won five times by the time he turned 23 years.
