15 million reasons to smile: Rory makes FedEx Cup history
Tour Championship report: What happened at East Lake Golf Club?
Just four weeks ago, Brooks Koepka handed out a beating to Rory McIlroy at the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational.
McIlroy won the rematch. And it was worth $15 million.
That's a big trophy, @McIlroyRory. 😅
The #FedExCup. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/SiQB20dqo5
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 25, 2019
McIlroy is just the second player, after Tiger Woods, to win the PGA Tour season-long money list on two separate occasions.
He also tops the list of most money won in a single PGA Tour season at $22.8 million, edging out Jordan Spieth’s $22 million 2015 season and Woods’ $20.9 million 2007 season.
Having made the turn at 2-under, McIlroy was flying, with Koepka struggling at level par after a lost ball at the 7th.
A 3-shot swing on the 7th hole.@McIlroyRory is the solo leader.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/rElfoJcTk5
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 25, 2019
Despite two back-nine bogeys, McIlroy repeatedly bounced back and his final round brought back fond memories of his Players Championship-winning performance in March.
The last putt of the season. 🏆@McIlroyRory finishes in style @PlayoffFinale.
He's the 2019 #FedExCup champion. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/BA4OvCrnnv
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 25, 2019
Koepka actually ended up 3rd, with Xander Schauffele sneaking in to finish solo 2nd and secure the $5 million runner-up prize.
The win wasn’t enough for McIlroy to overhaul Koepka at the top of the world rankings, but he will move to No. 2.
Tour Championship report: What the winner said
What a season.
Time to celebrate. 🍺 pic.twitter.com/XV8yLmR5kF
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 25, 2019
Tour Championship report: Talking points
The new format for the FedEx Cup Play-offs has been a hot topic in golf recently, and we finally got to see how the new system worked.
Justin Thomas led the FedEx Cup standings heading into the season-ending Tour Championship and this meant he would start the week on 10-under par.
From there, the field started at even par or better depending on their rank.
But what we all want to know is, how did the leaderboard look without the handicapping? Dustin Johnson, look away now…
- -13: Rory McIlroy
- -10: Xander Schauffele,
- -7: Paul Casey
- -6: Brooks Koepka
- -5: Chez Reavie, Adam Scott
- -4: Bryson DeChambeau, Tony Finau
- -3: Justin Thomas, Jason Kokrak, Kevin Kisner
- -2: Hideki Matsuyama
- E: Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood
- +1: Sungjae Im, Louis Oosthuizen , Gary Woodland, Patrick Reed
- +2: Rickie fowler
- +3: Matt Kuchar, Marc Leishman, Webb Simpson
- +4: Charles Howell III, Corey Conners, Brandt Snedeker
- +5: Justin Rose, Abraham Ancer
- +9: Patrick Cantlay
- +10: Lucas Glover
- +13: Dustin Johnson
**
On Saturday play was suspended due to an approaching storm, which did in fact arrive.
The players had been removed from the course but spectators were still on the property when lightning struck a large tree.
Statement from the PGA Tour: Injuries were caused by debris falling from the tree. pic.twitter.com/f7XB74X005
— NCG (@NCG_com) August 24, 2019
As the PGA Tour statement says, several fans were injured but no injuries were thought to be life-threatening.
Subsequently, there would be no more play on Saturday and the third round was completed on Sunday.
**
Now, there will always be people who want to pick holes in the achievements of athletes, but no matter how you look at it, Rory McIlroy’s season has been quite incredible.
Of all events that the Northern Irishman has teed it up in this year he has finished inside the top 10 in a staggering 74% and won three times.
Furthermore he has collected $23 million and has had the best strokes gained season which wasn’t recorded by Tiger Woods.
I get that only the majors matter, but if Rory closes this lead on the back nine, it's a cap on one of the more extraordinary statistical seasons this century.
• Three wins
• Top 10 in 74 percent of events
• $23 million
• Best non-🐯 strokes gained season ever— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) August 25, 2019
So let’s not bother focusing on the absence of a major.
Joe Hughes
Tour editor covering men's golf, women's golf and anything else that involves the word golf, really. The talk is far better than the game, but the work has begun to change that.
