The King of Kiawah

Reigning Hong Kong Open champion Rory McIlroy claims his second major and vaults to the top of the world rankings by destroying the strongest field of the year.

David Lynn was the surprise runner-up

McIlroy might have won this major before breakfast.

He was among 26 players who had to return Sunday morning, playing the back nine to finish the storm-delayed third round. Tied with Vijay Singh at six-under par, McIlroy missed two short birdie chances, and then made bogey on the 13th. He rebounded with birdies on the 15th and 16th, a tough bunker save on the 17th and a closing par for a 67 that gave him a three-shot lead.

After going back to his island home for breakfast, a quick nap and a change of clothes – a bright red shirt that had been chosen by Oakley, his apparel sponsor, at the start of the week – McIlroy looked solid as ever. After pulling his approach on the par-five 2nd hole under a tree, he hit wedge off the wood chips to set up a birdie. He came up just short of the green at the 3rd, where the tees were moved up to play 293 yards, and hit an even better flip wedge to a tiny target on an elevated green. McIlroy holed a 15-foot birdie putt, and he was on his way.

Pages

Click here to see the published article.