McIlroy wins USPGA Tour Championship and US$10 mn FedEx bonus

RORY MCILROY rolled in a 14foot birdie putt at the fourth hole of a sudden death playoff to edge Ryan Moore for the USPGA Tour Championship and claim the US$10 illion (RM41.4m) FedExCup playoff bonus.

With the playoff prize and the US$1.53million (RM6.33m) winner’s check, four-time major champion McIlroy earned a total payday of US$11.53million (RM47.7m) at East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia.

“It was incredible,” said McIlroy, who with his victory in the Deutsche Bank Championship has won US$13.81million (RM57.2m) in the playoffs. “All I wanted to do at the start of the day was concentrate on winning the Tour Championship. Somehow I was able to tie it up in regulation and get into the playoff.”

World No. 2 Dustin Johnson finished tied for sixth but after coming into the season finale atop the FedExCup standings would have still claimed the playoff bonus if either Moore or Kevin Chappell had won the tournament.

Chappell was eliminated at the first hole of the playoff – the par-five 18th where McIlroy missed a six-foot eagle attempt that would have won it all.

Moore drained a nine-foot birdie putt at the first playoff hole and he and McIlroy returned to play 18 again, both emerging with pars, as they did at the third playoff hole, the par-three 15th.

The fourth playoff hole took them to the par-four 16th, where McIlroy belted a 328-yard drive. Moore had made his par-saving putt when McIlroy stepped up and drained his 14-foot birdie attempt.

McIlroy’s (pix) triumph came at the same 16th hole where he surged into the playoff mix by holing out from 140 yards out in the fairway for eagle.

He followed that with a tap-in birdie at 18 to cap a 64 to join Moore, who also carded a 64, and Chappell, who shot a 66, on 12-under par 268.

“I knew I needed something to happen,” McIlroy said. “I said to myself on the 15th tee, if I can finish with three threes I’ll give myself a chance.

“I didn’t quite think the eagle was going to come as soon as it did,” he added. “But when something like that happens, you have to make the most of it. The holed shots from the fairway, it is part skill, but there’s an epic part of luck in there as well, and I took advantage of it ... A lot of things had to go right for me today, and they did. “Everything fell into place.” England’s Paul Casey also posted a 64 to finish alone on 271. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama signed for a 69 for 274. – AFP