Rory roars back to see off Scheffler
RORY McIlroy last night sealed an extraordinary comeback in the PGA Tour’s season finale at East Lake as he beat Scottie Scheffler to the $18million (£15.3m) first prize.
It was the American’s Tour Championship to lose as he entered the final round with a six-shot lead on 23-under.
Yet the world No1’s advantage was wiped out in seven holes, McIlroy clawing his way into contention with four birdies.
The pair then fought a rollercoaster battle, with the Northern Irishman taking a share of the lead with another birdie at 12 before moving in front when Scheffler missed a short par putt on 16.
McIlroy remained one ahead after the 17th and sealed his victory on the final hole.
At a time when money has never been more discussed in golf, Scheffler had gone into yesterday’s final round looking to swell his seasonal earnings to a record $37m. That would have been the richest season in Tour history until McIlroy intervened.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series has joined some of its defectors in their lawsuit against the PGA Tour, although an amended complaint shows four golfers have removed their names from it.
Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter, Bryson DeChambeau and eight others announced this month that they were suing the PGA Tour over its decision to suspend them for signing up to LIV Golf.
According to the amended complaint filed in San Jose, California, LIV Golf is now seeking ‘punitive damages against the PGA Tour for its tortuous interference with LIV Golf’s prospective business relationships’.
Abraham Ancer, Jason Kokrak, Carlos Ortiz and Pat Perez are the four to have withdrawn, according to the filing. Mickelson, Poulter, DeChambeau, Peter Uihlein, Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones all remain plaintiffs.
LIV’s involvement in the lawsuit is not surprising after CEO Greg Norman said the rebel tour would support the players in any legal action.
Gooch, Swafford and Jones had sought a temporary restraining order to allow them to compete in the FedEx Cup play-offs, though their request was denied by a US District Court judge. The lucrative LIV Golf series is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which has been criticised as a front to improve the country’s image in light of its human rights record.
In the amended complaint, LIV argues that without a favourable outcome, the ‘ability to maintain a meaningful competitive presence in the markets will be destroyed’.
They allege the PGA Tour’s reaction forced it to raise its costs to sign players and prevented it from recruiting others who fear punishment.
One of the latest expected to sign for LIV is Cameron Smith, the Open winner who is believed to have agreed a $100m-plus deal.
Meanwhile, Thriston Lawrence edged Matt Wallace in a play-off to win the Omega European Masters in Switzerland yesterday and secure his second DP World Tour title of the season.