McIlroy finally cashes in

ATLANTA — Hardly anything ever goes right for Rory McIlroy in the FedEx Cup.

McIlroy won two straight FedEx Cup playoff events in 2012 and was the best player in golf only to watch Brandt Snedeker win the Tour Championship to beat him out of the $10-million US bonus. Two years ago, he again was the No. 1 seed and was tied for the 54-hole lead until Billy Horschel beat him at East Lake.

McIlroy never looked like he had a chance Sunday.

He was three shots behind with three holes to play. Nearly two hours later, he poured in a 15-foot birdie putt on the fourth playoff hole to win the Tour Championship and claim the FedEx Cup in the wildest finish of its 10-year history.

All it took was a wedge he holed from 137 yards for eagle on the 16th hole and a birdie on the par-5 18th hole for a 6-under 64. Along the way, he needed Dustin Johnson to fade, and the U.S. Open champion did just that with a 73.

“I needed stuff like that to happen,” McIlroy said. “But I think after 2012 and 2014, it feels that little bit sweeter that I’ve been able to get it done.”

Nothing was sweeter than No. 16.

“I guess it all started on 16 in regulation when I holed that wedge,” McIlroy said.

Kevin Chappell was in the final group behind him and showing no signs of doing anything but winning, especially when Chappell stuffed a shot into four feet for birdie on the 16th to build a two-shot lead. Ryan Moore was in the penultimate group alongside McIlroy, and he was busy scrambling for pars until he rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, which gave him a share of the lead when Chappell made bogey behind him.

Moore and Chappell were tied at 12-under par. McIlroy was at 11-under.