McIlroy completes spectacular recovery at TPC Boston

PGA Tour: Deutsche Bank – Rory McIlroy

The last time McIlroy was in the PGA Tour winner’s circle was at the 2015 Wells Fargo Championship, now, just two weeks after starting working with putting coach Phil Kenyon, he is back in there.

McIlroy began the week par-bogey-triple but then played the next 69 holes in 19 under to overhaul Paul Casey’s lead. The Englishman began the final day six shots ahead of McIlroy, the champion birdied five holes of his front nine en route to a 65 while Casey slipped to a 73. His first three rounds had been seven shots better.

This was McIlroy’s second win in four years in this event and he ended the week leading driving distance and putting average, not a bad combination.

The victory was eventually two shots with McIlroy getting up and down for a birdie at the last which left Casey needing an eagle to tie, he could only par. Casey still has only one win on the PGA Tour, at the 2009 Houston Open.

Leaderboard: Rory McIlroy (-15), Paul Casey (-13), Jimmy Walker (-12) Adam Scott (-11)

What McIlroy said: “It’s just incredible, this game, how quickly things can change and how quickly things can turn around. It’s been a great lesson for me this week not to get down on myself, to stay patient.

“You learn with experience and a little bit more maturity that it’s four-round golf tournaments. It’s a long time. There’s a lot that can happen – and I sort of proved that to myself this week.

“It’s (the putting) definitely not the finished article, but it’s a big step in the right direction. I’m excited with how my game is and what I’ve found this week, and hopefully I can keep it going for the next couple of tournaments, but ultimately into the Ryder Cup and trying to get a fourth one of those.”