McIlroy makes WGC history with landmark victory
WGC-HSBC Champions report: What happened at Sheshan International Golf Club?
Rory McIlroy got the better of Xander Schauffele on the first play-off hole to become the first European to win three WGC titles.
He's done it!! 🏆@McIlroyRory makes history by becoming the 1st European to win 3 WGC titles.#WGCHSBCChampions pic.twitter.com/tQ3mQ45sjR
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 3, 2019
McIlroy played first from the 18th tee in the play-off and having left his ball in the centre of the fairway the pressure was on his rival who pulled his drive into the left rough, leaving a certain layup on the par-5.
Advantage @McIlroyRory. pic.twitter.com/QvZ8cZzoal
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 3, 2019
McIlory went for the green with his second and executed his approach perfectly. He left a 20-footer for eagle and although it rolled just by a short birdie put sealed the deal.
WOW 🔥
With Xander forced to lay up, Rory goes for it. pic.twitter.com/j8T95HDAnI
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 3, 2019
Schauffele did have a birdie putt to extend the play-off but his effort slipped just by and his par would not be good enough.
The regular final round was a tight affair with McIlroy constantly within striking distance of his playing partners Schauffele and Louis Oosthuizen despite leading from the 9th.
Rory takes the lead!
He sits one shot ahead of @XSchauffele. pic.twitter.com/Dr9Mj2MHgL
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 3, 2019
McIlroy held the 54-hole lead having carded three consecutive rounds of 67 and from that position he had converted six out of 10 outright 54-hole leads on the PGA Tour.
The Northern Irishman was bogey-free over the weekend but a final round of 4-under left the door ajar for Schauffele to sneak into his second consecutive play-off at the event with a birdie at the last.
Oosthuizen was in with a shot of victory for the majority of the front-nine but two bogeys around the turned dented his chances.
WGC-HSBC Champions report: Talking points
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Alex Perry has all the details.
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Several players were making their first WGC appearances in the last WGC of 2019 and there were plenty of good performances.
France’s Victor Perez who claimed his first European Tour victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links shot 6-under on Sunday to finish in a tie for 4th.
Paul Waring also teed it up for the first time and enjoyed a successful week finishing on 12-under in a tie for 8th and it could have been even better if he was able to break par on the final day.
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.
