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| Rory McIlroy stages astonishing fightback to win BMW PGA Championship | Rory McIlroy stages astonishing fightback to win BMW PGA Championship |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The finest sporting scriptwriters would have struggled to come up with this one. Rory McIlroy, ashen-faced and on the verge of tears because of personal upheaval before a Wentworth ball was struck, surged to an astonishing victory at the BMW PGA Championship. Even in the 25-year-old’s dramatic life to date, he has not had a five-day spell remotely close to approaching this one. | The finest sporting scriptwriters would have struggled to come up with this one. Rory McIlroy, ashen-faced and on the verge of tears because of personal upheaval before a Wentworth ball was struck, surged to an astonishing victory at the BMW PGA Championship. Even in the 25-year-old’s dramatic life to date, he has not had a five-day spell remotely close to approaching this one. |
| From the break-up of a high-profile engagement to raising a glass trophy aloft in one fell swoop. A penny for the thoughts of the jilted Caroline Wozniacki. McIlroy sat down for his victory press conference, took a deep breath, and shook his head. “This week has been a roller coaster,” he said. | |
| “I’m not exactly sure what I am feeling right now, to be honest. It has obviously been a week of very mixed emotions. I’m sitting here looking at this trophy going: ‘How the hell did it happen this week?’ But it did. I feel happy that I have won obviously but, yes, it has been a weird week.” | |
| McIlroy had never been a fan of Wentworth’s West Course but that seemed like a footnote when the dust had settled here. So did the point that this marks his first professional success in continental Europe. | |
| When nobody, including the man himself, had predicted it, McIlroy burst back into the winner’s circle. In doing so, he thereby provided the kind of epic tale that a generally mundane golf season so desperately needed. | When nobody, including the man himself, had predicted it, McIlroy burst back into the winner’s circle. In doing so, he thereby provided the kind of epic tale that a generally mundane golf season so desperately needed. |
| This marks the Northern Irishman’s first European Tour victory since November 2012, finally endorses the on-course promise that he displayed in earlier competitive appearances and makes a complete mockery of the suggestion that off-course chaos is detrimental to a sportsman’s performance. | This marks the Northern Irishman’s first European Tour victory since November 2012, finally endorses the on-course promise that he displayed in earlier competitive appearances and makes a complete mockery of the suggestion that off-course chaos is detrimental to a sportsman’s performance. |
| “I guess when I got inside the ropes this week, it was a little bit of a release,” McIlroy added. “I was on my own and doing what I do best, which is playing golf. That sort of gave me four or five hours of serenity or sanctuary. I just found myself able to concentrate on that job in hand. | “I guess when I got inside the ropes this week, it was a little bit of a release,” McIlroy added. “I was on my own and doing what I do best, which is playing golf. That sort of gave me four or five hours of serenity or sanctuary. I just found myself able to concentrate on that job in hand. |
| “This does my confidence a world of good. I know that I’m playing well, but being able to get the job done under pressure and when I need to, I think that’s the most pleasing thing about this week.” | “This does my confidence a world of good. I know that I’m playing well, but being able to get the job done under pressure and when I need to, I think that’s the most pleasing thing about this week.” |
| McIlroy’s closing round of 66 secured the tournament by just a stroke, at 14 under par, from his close friend Shane Lowry. For long spells, it looked as if Lowry would merely add to McIlroy’s recent heartache. | McIlroy’s closing round of 66 secured the tournament by just a stroke, at 14 under par, from his close friend Shane Lowry. For long spells, it looked as if Lowry would merely add to McIlroy’s recent heartache. |
| “Rory is definitely one of the best golfers I have ever played golf with and I’ve been lucky enough to play a lot with him,” said a magnanimous Lowry. “He’s had his struggles over the last couple of years so I am delighted for him.” | “Rory is definitely one of the best golfers I have ever played golf with and I’ve been lucky enough to play a lot with him,” said a magnanimous Lowry. “He’s had his struggles over the last couple of years so I am delighted for him.” |
| In what quickly emerged into a thrilling denouement, Luke Donald had strong aspirations of glory. Those hopes ended with a second shot into water on the 72nd hole, at the point where Donald needed an eagle to force a play-off. | In what quickly emerged into a thrilling denouement, Luke Donald had strong aspirations of glory. Those hopes ended with a second shot into water on the 72nd hole, at the point where Donald needed an eagle to force a play-off. |
| McIlroy had been much more ruthless. He made crucial up-and-downs on the final three holes, including one spectacularly from a bunker on the last. He had earlier chipped in for birdie at the 10th. A brilliant back nine of 32 rendered McIlroy a worthy champion of the European Tour’s flagship event. Nobody could claim he did it the easy way; McIlroy trailed the leader Thomas Bjorn by seven shots before the final round. This is the sixth time McIlroy has come from behind to claim victory and the one from the biggest margin. | |
| A key reason for this Sunday afternoon drama was Bjorn’s latest collapse. The Dane held a seemingly unassailable five-shot lead heading into round four but then folded spectacularly. Bjorn will also need little reminding that he has done something similar before. | |
| Bjorn’s woes started on the 6th, where he took a triple-bogey seven. He remained a picture of frustration thereafter. The 43-year-old would unquestionably have taken a tie for third, alongside Donald, before the tournament began but it can only be cause of dejection in the context of Bjorn’s Sunday morning position. | |
| McIlroy’s suddenly had reason to sample an altogether different emotion. Whatever else can be said of this young golfer – and plenty is – his status as a walking headline machine cannot be denied. This sport is fortunate to have him. | McIlroy’s suddenly had reason to sample an altogether different emotion. Whatever else can be said of this young golfer – and plenty is – his status as a walking headline machine cannot be denied. This sport is fortunate to have him. |