RORY McILROY WINS US OPEN BY ASTONISHING EIGHT STROKES
FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By KEVIN GARSIDE
Say hello to the youngest US Open champion since the great Bobby Jones in 1923. Rory McIlroy is the anti-Woods, smiling his way into the hearts of America, spreading joy after the tears of Augusta
Genuflect at the feet of the man responsible for the lowest aggregate in the history of this event; 16 under par. Pay your respects to a player that might yet redefine what is possible in this sport. As he walked up the 18th to deafening acclaim, nothing seemed beyond Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.
This is not the hyperbole of the unhinged but the views of the slain and of the man who set the bar highest. Yes, even Jack Nicklaus, he of 18 major championships, is on board, expressing disbelief at what he had seen from his front room in Florida. He might have been watching Star Trek for four days, such was the incredulity of this story line.
The eight-shot lead with which McIlroy started the last day was intact at the close, only the name of the player in second changed, Australia’s Jason Day supplanting the hitherto indefatigable South Korean YE Yang.
The putt that sealed McIlroy’s first major, a par from all of six inches, earned a hug from dad and detonated the inner fireworks. And not just in him.
To walk with McIlroy at Congressional has been to witness a new dawn; in golf certainly and maybe in sport.
The 22 year-old has in his own characteristic and beautiful way returned effortless grace to the centre of the golfing enterprise. His swing has been deconstructed by the experts and adjudged to be as perfect a motion as might be achieved, a thing of bio-mechanical wonder, transforming complexity into art. Nicklaus observed that he was way ahead of him at the same age.
And on the inside, too, there is a generous, soul-refreshingly free of artifice, one that sees the good in life not bad. McIlroy is the kind of lad who lets others pass through doors first, who says please and thank you. And he has utterly lit up the US Open, almost perceptibly drawing a line under the Tiger years of ruthless, death-mask diplomacy.
McIlroy is the anti-Woods, smiling his way into the hearts of America, spreading joy after the tears of Augusta.
The 111th U.S Open has been a memorable championship, not great. McIlroy’s dominance has seen to that. In successive rounds McIlroy imposed his authority with leads of three shots, six and eight. He draped US Open history all over Congressional; the quickest to 10 under par, 26 holes; the lowest totals for 36 and 54 holes, 131 and 199 respectively; the first to stand at 14 under par. He did not post a bogey until the last hole of the second day. His double at the 18th after finding the water with a marginal error out of the rough denied him the lowest 36 hole total at any major (129).
What we have witnessed is the boy becoming the man. The insouciant gambol across Augusta 10 weeks ago could not survive the attack on his temperament. We might view that as the last expression of youth. Cast your eyes back 11 months to St Andrews, where McIlroy opened with a 63 only to give it all back the very next day in the wind, posting an 80. A month later at the US PGA he had a putt on the last hole to make the play-off with Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson and missed.
And then to Augusta, where a share of the lead on the first day progressed to a halfway lead of two shots and a four-shot advantage with a round to play. We might have been talking about the Rory slam here. Some saw those mistakes as a sign of terminal flaws. His critics held his career ledger up to the light and saw two wins in four years as a professional.
And so it was that he arrived at the Congressional with his championship credentials under review. One did not need a telescope to see the first question coming after his scintillating opening round of 65. After the Masters, could he protect a lead in a major?
The question did not go away after his second-round 66, and it was there again after he had engineered his eight-shot lead. The comparison with Augusta, said his inquisitor, was unavoidable.
McIlroy’s answer was impressive. “I know what I need to do. At Augusta, it was all a little bit new to me, going into the final round with the lead. I didn’t know whether to be defensive, aggressive, go for it, not go for it, but now I know. I have a clear mind.”
The proof of that came early yesterday with a birdie at the first. That is how to answer questions about nerves. Another at the fourth took him to 16 under par, a ridiculous 10 shots clear.
At Augusta his four-shot overnight lead had reduced to two before he had reached the second green. Here McIlroy was never under pressure. The morning was a lazy affair, chatting easily over breakfast with his father, Gerry, Lee Westwood and members of his management team.
His first engagement at the course was with the cameras, a brief exchange at the side of the putting green. Then a few practice putts and over to the range to loosen the shoulders.
A crowd had stayed behind to share the moment and cheer the champion-elect on to the stage.
“Go Rory, it’s yours all day, baby.” McIlroy tipped his cap and moved to his bay.
His walk appeared practised, the gait of a man who had been this way before, which he had of course. Only this time he was moving with a sense of purpose not fear. Asked how his boy had coped with the build-up compared with the experience at the Masters his mentor, Stuart Cage, said “Chalk and cheese.” Cage then received a text from his wife, which he shared.
“Stop scratching. I can see you on TV.”
Jokes are all the rage when your man is about to walk through golf history’s door."
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
268 Rory McIlroy 65 66 68 69 ($1,440,000).
276 Jason Day 71 72 65 68 ($865,000).
278 Kevin Chappell 76 67 69 66, Robert Garrigus 70 70 68 70, Lee Westwood 75 68 65 70, Y E Yang 68 69 70 71 ($364,241).
279 Sergio Garcia 69 71 69 70, Peter Hanson 72 71 69 67 ($220,416 each).
280 Louis Oosthuizen 69 73 71 67, Charl Schwartzel 68 74 72 66 ($192,962 each).
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES AND PRIZEMONEY
CLICK HERE
By KEVIN GARSIDE
Say hello to the youngest US Open champion since the great Bobby Jones in 1923. Rory McIlroy is the anti-Woods, smiling his way into the hearts of America, spreading joy after the tears of Augusta
Genuflect at the feet of the man responsible for the lowest aggregate in the history of this event; 16 under par. Pay your respects to a player that might yet redefine what is possible in this sport. As he walked up the 18th to deafening acclaim, nothing seemed beyond Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.
This is not the hyperbole of the unhinged but the views of the slain and of the man who set the bar highest. Yes, even Jack Nicklaus, he of 18 major championships, is on board, expressing disbelief at what he had seen from his front room in Florida. He might have been watching Star Trek for four days, such was the incredulity of this story line.
The eight-shot lead with which McIlroy started the last day was intact at the close, only the name of the player in second changed, Australia’s Jason Day supplanting the hitherto indefatigable South Korean YE Yang.
The putt that sealed McIlroy’s first major, a par from all of six inches, earned a hug from dad and detonated the inner fireworks. And not just in him.
To walk with McIlroy at Congressional has been to witness a new dawn; in golf certainly and maybe in sport.
The 22 year-old has in his own characteristic and beautiful way returned effortless grace to the centre of the golfing enterprise. His swing has been deconstructed by the experts and adjudged to be as perfect a motion as might be achieved, a thing of bio-mechanical wonder, transforming complexity into art. Nicklaus observed that he was way ahead of him at the same age.
And on the inside, too, there is a generous, soul-refreshingly free of artifice, one that sees the good in life not bad. McIlroy is the kind of lad who lets others pass through doors first, who says please and thank you. And he has utterly lit up the US Open, almost perceptibly drawing a line under the Tiger years of ruthless, death-mask diplomacy.
McIlroy is the anti-Woods, smiling his way into the hearts of America, spreading joy after the tears of Augusta.
The 111th U.S Open has been a memorable championship, not great. McIlroy’s dominance has seen to that. In successive rounds McIlroy imposed his authority with leads of three shots, six and eight. He draped US Open history all over Congressional; the quickest to 10 under par, 26 holes; the lowest totals for 36 and 54 holes, 131 and 199 respectively; the first to stand at 14 under par. He did not post a bogey until the last hole of the second day. His double at the 18th after finding the water with a marginal error out of the rough denied him the lowest 36 hole total at any major (129).
What we have witnessed is the boy becoming the man. The insouciant gambol across Augusta 10 weeks ago could not survive the attack on his temperament. We might view that as the last expression of youth. Cast your eyes back 11 months to St Andrews, where McIlroy opened with a 63 only to give it all back the very next day in the wind, posting an 80. A month later at the US PGA he had a putt on the last hole to make the play-off with Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson and missed.
And then to Augusta, where a share of the lead on the first day progressed to a halfway lead of two shots and a four-shot advantage with a round to play. We might have been talking about the Rory slam here. Some saw those mistakes as a sign of terminal flaws. His critics held his career ledger up to the light and saw two wins in four years as a professional.
And so it was that he arrived at the Congressional with his championship credentials under review. One did not need a telescope to see the first question coming after his scintillating opening round of 65. After the Masters, could he protect a lead in a major?
The question did not go away after his second-round 66, and it was there again after he had engineered his eight-shot lead. The comparison with Augusta, said his inquisitor, was unavoidable.
McIlroy’s answer was impressive. “I know what I need to do. At Augusta, it was all a little bit new to me, going into the final round with the lead. I didn’t know whether to be defensive, aggressive, go for it, not go for it, but now I know. I have a clear mind.”
The proof of that came early yesterday with a birdie at the first. That is how to answer questions about nerves. Another at the fourth took him to 16 under par, a ridiculous 10 shots clear.
At Augusta his four-shot overnight lead had reduced to two before he had reached the second green. Here McIlroy was never under pressure. The morning was a lazy affair, chatting easily over breakfast with his father, Gerry, Lee Westwood and members of his management team.
His first engagement at the course was with the cameras, a brief exchange at the side of the putting green. Then a few practice putts and over to the range to loosen the shoulders.
A crowd had stayed behind to share the moment and cheer the champion-elect on to the stage.
“Go Rory, it’s yours all day, baby.” McIlroy tipped his cap and moved to his bay.
His walk appeared practised, the gait of a man who had been this way before, which he had of course. Only this time he was moving with a sense of purpose not fear. Asked how his boy had coped with the build-up compared with the experience at the Masters his mentor, Stuart Cage, said “Chalk and cheese.” Cage then received a text from his wife, which he shared.
“Stop scratching. I can see you on TV.”
Jokes are all the rage when your man is about to walk through golf history’s door."
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
268 Rory McIlroy 65 66 68 69 ($1,440,000).
276 Jason Day 71 72 65 68 ($865,000).
278 Kevin Chappell 76 67 69 66, Robert Garrigus 70 70 68 70, Lee Westwood 75 68 65 70, Y E Yang 68 69 70 71 ($364,241).
279 Sergio Garcia 69 71 69 70, Peter Hanson 72 71 69 67 ($220,416 each).
280 Louis Oosthuizen 69 73 71 67, Charl Schwartzel 68 74 72 66 ($192,962 each).
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES AND PRIZEMONEY
CLICK HERE
Labels: US OPEN
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Monday, June 20, 2011
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