World No. 1 Rory McIlroy celebrated U.S. Labor Day banking the Deutsche Bank Championship and in the process leaving Tiger Woods short-changed in third place.
The win is McIlroy’s third PGA Tour success this year after earlier this year capturing the Honda Classic and more recently, the PGA Championship.
Rory McIlroy ties Tiger Woods with three wins on the PGA Tour this year after his one stroke success in the Deutsche Bank Championship.
The Northern Irishman carded a pair of 65s and then a closing par of 67s to win with a 20-under par tally and relegate South African Louis Oosthuizen into second place on 19-under par with Woods carding a 65 to be in third place on 18-under par.
There was a dramatic conclusion to the event with McIlroy’s birdie putt coming to rest right on the lip of the hole before Oosthuizen then mis-read his birdie putt in trying to force a play-off.
The win takes McIlroy to the top of the FedEx Cup standings and arguably the best player in the game at present.
Victory ensures McIlroy is the youngest player with five PGA wins since Woods, who had 15 wins at the age of 23. T
“I’m delighted to get my fifth win on the PGA Tour, third win this year, second win in the last three events,” he said.
“Yeah, today was great, going out with a three‑shot deficit. I just wanted to get off to a good solid start and maybe put Louis under a little bit of pressure. I was able to do that playing the first holes 3‑under, and we both made a couple mistakes on the fifth hole, but he made a 6 to my 5, so I was able to take advantage of that a little bit. I think the good start set me up for a solid back nine.
“There was a couple of shots on the back nine I‑‑ well, I won’t take back now, but if I could have then, I would have.
“But still managed to do enough, and as I said, delighted to get this win, delighted to go to No.1 in the FedExCup, sets me up for a great next couple weeks.
“So overall just very pleased.”
McIlroy’s win is yet a further boost for European Ryder Cup captain, Jose Maria Olazabal with McIlroy winning two of the last three events and with Spain’s Sergio Garcia capturing the Wyndham Championship.
And on the European Tour 43-year old Paul Lawrie, and the oldest player on either side going to Medinah, captured the Johnnie Walker Championship.
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