Father Time fuels McIlroy win
week-out.”
He had a one-stroke lead stepping to the 18th tee of regulation play but nearly put his drive into the imposing lake that hugs the long par-5 hole at Sheshan International Golf Club.
He could only salvage a par, leaving him tied with Schauffele after the American carded a birdie.
But the Northern Irishman shrugged off the mistake to split the fairway in the play-off replay on 18 as Schauffele’s tee shot missed left.
McIlroy went on to win the hole and the $1.745 million winner’s purse.
He is coming off a strong 2019 that saw him secure the FedEx Cup, win PGA Tour Player of the Year honours, and climb the world golf rankings.
Recapturing top rank
McIlroy burst onto the stage a decade ago as a shaggy-haired youngster widely predicted to dominate golf for years but was overtaken by a succession of other young stars. He said this week that next on his list was recapturing the world’s top rank, currently held by American golfer Brooks Koepka.
As the sport buzzes with the return of Tiger Woods — who achieved a recordtying 82nd PGA Tour win this past week in Japan — McIlroy showed that he also remains a potent force.
He did not drop a shot over his final 38 regulation holes and finished at 19 under par.
“I’m excited for the future. I feel like this year compares to 2014, 2015, but I don’t see any reason why I can’t go ahead and have an even better year next year,” he said.
The gutsiest performance of the week was put in by world number nine Schauffele.
The American won in a similar 18th-hole playoff last year against Tony Finau and was gunning to become the first back-toback victor.
But he arrived in Shanghai battling a bad case of flu that had him nipping on a nasal inhaler on the course, and occasionally backing off shots to let out a hoarse cough.