Three late birdies proved essential when the Northern Ireland star bogeyed the final two holes however nonetheless edged American Kurt Kitayama.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates with the trophy after profitable through the closing spherical of the CJ Cup at Congaree Golf Club on 23 October 2022 in Ridgeland, South Carolina. Picture: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP
WASHINGTON – Rory McIlroy held on for a one-stroke victory within the US PGA Tour CJ Cup on Sunday to return to the highest of the world rankings for the ninth time in his profession.
Three late birdies proved essential when the Northern Ireland star bogeyed the final two holes however nonetheless edged American Kurt Kitayama.
The four-time main winner is again atop the rankings for the primary time since July 2020 – when he was supplanted by Spain’s Jon Rahm.
He ousted American Scottie Scheffler, who completed tied for forty fifth on Sunday to see his 30-week stint on the summit finish.
“It means a lot,” McIlroy stated, with slightly catch in his throat.
“You know, this tournament last year was the start of me trying to build myself back up to this point. I had a really rough Ryder Cup. I’ve talked about that at length.
“I feel I used to be outdoors the top-10 on the earth. It’s not a place that I’m used to being in.
“I just think about everyone that has made a difference in my life, obviously, not over the last 12 months, but ever.”
McIlroy defended the CJ Cup title he claimed final 12 months in Las Vegas. The match has been moved from South Korea for 3 straight years due to journey restrictions associated to the coronavirus pandemic.
He notched a twenty third profession PGA Tour title, and continued to indicate the sturdy type of his 2021-22 marketing campaign, wherein he gained a report third FedEx Cup playoff crown and completed within the prime eight in any respect 4 majors.
But McIlroy acknowledged it hadn’t been a gradual climb over the previous 12 months, throughout which he has additionally emerged as a powerful voice supporting the US PGA Tour amid the emergence of the rival LIV Golf Series.
He stated if somebody had advised him when he missed the minimize on the Texas Open in March he’d be No. 1 in October, “I would have asked them what they were smoking.”
“It has just been a wild six months,” McIlroy stated. “Now it’s all about going forward and trying to just keep this going.
“It’s lots to course of proper now simply with every thing, however simply actually pleased with myself with how I dealt with this week figuring out what was at stake.(*1*)The competitor in me needs to complete the match off the appropriate approach,” McIlroy said. “I did not really feel like I fairly did that, however it was good that I gave myself the cushion at the least.”
Kitayama posted 4 birdies in his four-under 67 for 268. Lee had three birdies in his three-under 68 and was alone in third on 269.
Rahm, who shared the lead on the again 9, could not recuperate from a bogey at 14 and shared fourth on 270 with England’s Tommy Fleetwood.