McIlroy hits Pebble on a roll, raising world ranking to third
PEBBLE BEACH — Rory McIlroy arrived in Northern California on a vapor trail of good vibes.
McIlroy shot 64-61 on the weekend to win the Canadian Open by seven strokes. That marked his second victory this year — he also won the Players Championship in March — and his 10th top-10 finish in 13 starts this season on the PGA Tour.
McIlroy ended 2018 at No. 8 in the world ranking. He’s now up to third, behind only Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson.
“Obviously, it’s a nice little confidence boost coming into this tournament,” McIlroy said Wednesday, on the eve of the U.S. Open. “I feel like my game has been in really good shape all year, and it was nice to validate all the good work I’ve been putting in with another win.
“I feel like the golf I produced last week is what I’m capable of, and obviously what I’ll try to produce more often. You’re not going to shoot those scores every weekend, but it is nice when it happens.”
McIlroy celebrated his win in Hamilton, Ontario, by donning a red Raptors jersey during the trophy ceremony — given to him by Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum — and predicting Toronto would close out the Warriors in Game 5 on Monday night. That didn’t happen, and now McIlroy is spending this week a relatively short drive from the Bay Area.
He brought the Raptors jersey with him, but he doesn’t plan to wear it around Pebble Beach.
“The atmosphere up there last week was unbelievable,” McIlroy said of his visit to Canada. “I felt like the whole country was behind that team. I’ll be an interested onlooker this week . ... But that Raptors jersey is probably staying in the suitcase this week.”
McIlroy, 30, has 16 victories on the PGA Tour, including four majors. He hasn’t won a major in nearly five years, since the PGA Championship in August 2014. Morikawa rising: Cal alum Collin Morikawa also brings some momentum across the border to this U.S. Open. Morikawa, who made his professional debut in the Canadian Open (on a sponsor exemption), tied for 14th after a finalround 67.
Morikawa, a four-time college All-American who graduated last month, tees off at 12:41 p.m. Thursday.
Other players with Bay Area ties in the field at Pebble Beach include Byeong Hun An (Cal), Joseph Bramlett (San Jose/ Stanford), Hayden Shieh (Fremont/Santa Clara) and Brandon Wu (Stanford). Briefly: Sergio Garcia has missed the cut in his past seven major starts . ... Sam Saunders, grandson of Arnold Palmer, will hit the first tee shot at 6:45 a.m. Thursday.