It could have pretty easily gone the other way on Sunday for Rory McIlroy. The four-time major winner was seeking a tournament he clearly coveted at the highest level. He went to the 70th hole of the Irish Open at the K Club trailing for what seemed like the first time in forever on the week after making an awful bogey at the par-4 11th. McIlroy was one shot back of Scotsman Russell Knox, who had birdied Nos. 14 and 15.
The tournament was teetering, and everybody (including both of these men) knew it. And that's when Rory McIlroy remembered that he was Rory McIlroy.
He hit a preposterous 270-yard approach shot to 30 feet on No. 16 -- a completely absurd approach given the circumstances (down by one, three holes left and, you know, being 270 yards away). McIlroy talked afterwards about how he wasn't sure he should go for it and didn't know if anyone all week had gone for the 570-yard par-5 in two shots.
"I stayed as patient and as relaxed as I could," McIlroy told Golf Channel of Knox taking the lead going to No. 16. "I knew my length would be an advantage in the holes coming up. I really didn't expect to go for the green in two at 16. I don't know if many people have gone for that green in two all week. But I hit a perfect drive ... so that shortened the hole a little bit. I needed to do something. That was the turning point in the round and the tournament. I just stepped up there and tried to make as committed a swing as I possibly could, and it worked out for me."
It was two putts for birdie for McIlroy as Knox bogeyed it.
McIlroy from 271 yards. https://t.co/9uEqWgUuK9
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 22, 2016
The lead was McIlroy's again by one. He made par at the par-4 17th after a birdie putt lipped out. Then, the master stroke on the final hole of the day and tournament.
After a perfect drive on the 18th, McIlroy hit a 253-yard approach to two feet -- eagle and a three-stroke win. It was, frankly, a joke. I've watched both of those approaches 20 times now. Listened to them, too. They sound different than anyone else's shots. Rory's shots always have.
253 yards.
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 22, 2016
The shot of a champion. https://t.co/7EpcJKAbWH
It's hard to overstate how resolutely McIlroy dropped the hammer over these last three holes. He was in serious jeopardy of handing over what amounts to his national championship to Knox after a bumpy day with the putter. Boom-boom-boom, birdie-par-eagle. And that was that.
McIlroy was emotional afterwards as he pledged his winnings of over 650,000 Euros to the Rory Foundation (which also played host to the tournament). The majors are still the most important tournaments to historically great players like McIlroy, but this one meant a lot.
"I don't usually get emotional winning tournaments," McIlroy told Golf Channel. "I'm obviously over the moon and I'm very happy, but I had to hold back the tears on the 18th green. I even started to choke up a little bit walking off the green.
"It means an awful lot. This tournament now to me is one of the most important of my year. Not just because it is the Irish Open and it's home but because of what we're doing charitable-wise as well. The kids we've helped out this week. The money we've raised will go a long way to making their lives a little bit better."
The way McIlroy won could be long-lasting too. He needed a jolt (in the win column) to get his season really cranking. This is his first win worldwide since last November.
"I kept telling everyone including myself that my game was close," McIlroy told Golf Channel. "It was there, and I just needed something to click. The way I played the last three holes was the turning point in the tournament, but it could also be the turning point in my season. You just need something like that to click, and I feel like you're off and running."
Straight towards an epic summer.
