It was a double celebration for the McIlroy family at Hoylake overnight.A decade ago, Rory’s father Gerry and three mates pooled 400 pounds at 500-1 that Rory would win the British Open by the time he was 26.
Dutifully, Rory delivered a year early, and the Gerry quartet are 200,000 pounds richer today.
But Rory is 1.66 million better off by taking out the 143rd British Open by two shots over Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler, joining the elite group of Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only golfers in history to win three majors by the time they were 25.
But the Ulsterman didn’t have a walk in the park, despite being so dominant for 54 holes to lead by six shots going into the final round, and starting with a birdie at the first.
McIlroy saved his “worst” round until last with a 1-under 71, while he did battle with many loose shots and only great recovery strokeplay kept him in the lead.
He admitted in the post-tournament media conference it was just as well he had that cushion as “There were a lot of guys coming at me, especially Sergio and Rickie”.
In the end McIlroy finished 17-under, with Garcia, and Fowler locked at 15-under, Jim Furyk 13-under, with the two Australians Adam Scott and Marc Leishman at 12-under.
In the tournament breakdown between the top three:
McIlroy carded two eagles, 20 birdies, and seven bogeys.
Garcia also had two eagles, with 18 birdies, and seven bogeys.
Fowler fired in 23 birdies with eight bogeys.
Faced with the best conditions of the four days, the elite can out to play.
The 65s – Leishman, Shane Lowry, and Chris Wood.
The 66s – Garcia and Scott.
The 67s – Fowler, Charl Schwartzel, Graeme McDowell, Francesco Molinari, Angel Cabrera, Thomas Bjorn, Brendon Todd, and Koumei Oda.
And the 68s – Edoardo Molinari, Ryan Moore, David Howell, Stephen Gallacher, George Coetzee, Phil Mickelson, and the 64 years young Tom Watson.
Tiger Woods?
In only his second tournament back since his March back surgery, having missed the cut in the first, Woods had two triple bogeys, two doubles, and nine bogeys to go with his 15 birdies to finish at 6-over in 69th place among the 72 weekend qualifiers.
The next British Open will be at St Andrews with the top 10 finishers overnight, plus ties, automatic qualifiers – Rory McIlroy, Sergit Garcia, Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Marc Leishman, Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel, Edoardo Molinari, Shane Lowry, Graeme McDowell, and Victor Dubuisson.
Special age dispensation has been given to Tom Watson to finish his illustrious British Open career at St Andrews.
He won in 1975 at Carnoustie at his first attempt, and again in 1977, 1980, 1982, and 1983.
Since World War 1, only Australian Peter Thomson has won five – 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, and 1965.
British Open 2015 will be Watson’s 42nd and final start, and there won’t be a dry eye at the home of golf for this immensely popular golfer.
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