Rory McIlroy flirts with 59 and wins the Canadian Open by seven, but it was his old mate Graeme McDowell who stole the headlines
Canadian Open report: What happened at Hamilton Golf & Country Club?
Rory McIlroy played his very best stuff on Sunday to shoot a stunning 61 and claim a seven-shot victory over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.
The Northern Irishman held a share of the 54-hole lead but was a man on a mission who simply couldnโt miss on Sunday.
Club twirl for @McIlroyRory.
He now leads by 6 shots.
Video game mode. ๐ฎ#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/821deCFnhy
โ PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 9, 2019
Despite a bogey at the 16th, McIlroy was on 59 watch after this eagle at 17:
EAGLE for leader @McIlroyRory. ๐ฆ
He needs a birdie on 18 to shoot 59!#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/0HablJ3Bo4
โ PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 9, 2019
He needed a birdie at 18 to for a sub-60 round, but his approach found the greenside bunker:
Rory McIlroy needs to hole this to shoot 59 โฆ#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/6hemlosHo7
โ PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 9, 2019
From there he two-putted for a 61, but he wonโt care and will head to next weekโs US Open brimming with confidence.
What a weekend at the @RBCCanadianOpen. Fans were incredible and I'm so proud to win Canada's biggest event. @Raptors in 5! ๐จ๐ฆ pic.twitter.com/kNIilHPn0v
โ Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) June 10, 2019
Canadian Open report: What they said
McIlroy missed the cut at last weekโs Memorial and as a result added this event to his schedule, but once heโd decided to play, he was by no means just there to make up numbers and have a few practice rounds ahead of next weekโs major.
He said, โ I feel like I play my best when I play stretches of golf. This is the second week in a row and Iโm playing next week, which will be three.
โPart of the reason for playing her was I wanted my game to be in good shape for Pebble Beach, but that doesnโt mean this tournament doesnโt mean anything. Itโs a big event and it will only get bigger.โ
When asked if he wished the US Open would be starting on Monday, he had a brilliant response:
โNo, because Iโll be hungover, probably. I need a couple of days to recover.โ
Let the celebration begin. pic.twitter.com/xPMdLlmceK
โ Skratch (@Skratch) June 9, 2019
Canadian Open report: Talking point
Just last week, myself and my colleague Alex Perry were debating as to whether or not Graeme McDowell should be handed an exemption to the Open in his hometown of Portrush.
The debate is over.
.@Graeme_McDowell qualifies for The Open at Royal Portrush. ๐๐ผ
The crowds reaction:pic.twitter.com/bVGFtD6MsM
โ National Club Golfer (@NCG_com) June 9, 2019
G-Mac showed nerves of steel on 18 to hole a par putt that saw him take the second of three available spots at the Open on offer in Canada.
McDowell has had what could generally be described as a quiet few years on tour, with his US Open win at Pebble Beach back in 2010 still being a highlight.
Before his win on the PGA Tour earlier this season, you would have to look back to 2014 to find the last time he came out on top, a drought of five years that was unexpected from a player of his calibre.
However, weโre sure that G-Mac will be grinning from ear-to-ear, all the way to Portrush, thanks to his top-10 finish this week, rounded off with a huge par putt at the last.
His performance was good enough to grab him one of three qualification spots up for grabs in Canada, just days after theย R&A confirmed that they would not be giving him an exemption.
The World No. 121 will head back to Pebble Beach next week with a huge weight lifted from his shoulders.
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