Rory scoops $10m FedExCup jackpot
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Rory McIlroy warmed up for the Ryder Cup in sensational style by claiming the $10m FedExCup prize with a dramatic play-off victory at the Tour Championship in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Northern Irishman trailed joint leaders Dustin Johnson and Kevin Chappell by two shots heading into the final round, but posted a six-under-par 64 to force a three-way play-off with Ryan Moore and Chappell.
McIlroy and Moore both birdied the first play-off hole to eliminate Chappell, before the Northern Irishman rolled in a 15ft birdie putt three holes later to seal victory at the $1.5m tournament at East Lakes.
“All I wanted to do was concentrate on winning the Tour Championship,” said the 27-year-old.
“I couldn’t control what anyone else did. I needed to come out here and play a really good round of golf. I just wanted to go out and play the way I have been playing.
“I feel my game is really coming together at the right time, and two wins in the last three feels pretty nice.”
McIlroy’s strong end to the season on the PGA Tour comes less than two months after he labelled his putting “pathetic” at the US PGA Championship.
“To play the way I have in the last few weeks to get it done is very special,” the World No.3 added.
“I couldn’t have imagined six weeks ago after Baltusrol I would be FedExCup champion.”
Switching from a Nike Method Origin putter to a Scotty Cameron Concept M1 Prototype brought about a change of fortunes for McIlroy as he won his first PGA Tour title in 16 months at the Deutsche Bank Championship three weeks ago.
His new-found confidence on the greens paid dividends in Atlanta as he mixed nine birdies and an eagle with a solitary bogey over the weekend.
He was still three shots off the lead with three holes to play in the final round, but holed out from 137-yards for eagle on the 16th before birdieing the last to finish on 12-under par.
Attention now turns to the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine later this week, where McIlroy is expected to play a starring role under the guidance of European captain and fellow countryman Darren Clarke.
Read our exclusive interview with Clarke here.
