Rory: Tiger not as feared but still a major threat

“It is not Tiger that, you know, Phil (Mickelson) and Ernie (Els) and those guys had to deal with”, said McIlroy. He birdied the 14th and 18th holes on Sunday to post a 2-under 69 and earn a two-stroke victory.

Woods walked off the course and his two children, 11-year-old Sam and 9-year-old Charlie greeted him with warm embrace.

“I’m lost for words really”, said Molinari.

McIlroy slipped back to three under early in his round but powered back into contention on a congested leaderboard, which included a rejuvenated Tiger Woods, with an eagle on the 14th.

The 14-times major victor eventually signed for a 71 and a share of sixth at five under with Englishman Eddie Pepperell – who claimed the clubhouse lead early in the day with a last-round low 67 – and fellow American Kevin Chappell (73).

“Even though he’s won 14, you have to learn how to get back”, said McIlroy whose last major was in 2014. A huge par putt on the sixth would just about keep his vague hopes alive, but McIlroy needs a stunner in his remaining 12 holes to win his fifth Major.

“Go out and hit a lot of drivers”, McIlroy said.

The 14-times major victor had to settle for a closing 71 and a 279 aggregate.

“If someone was expecting a charge, they probably weren’t expecting it from me”, he said.

The 24-year-old from California kept playing with a smile on his face despite finding himself, as he described it, “in the strangest spots possible on the golf course” with playing partner Spieth. Xander Schauffele topped a shot out of the rough, blew the next one over the seventh green and made double bogey. I loved seeing him jump to 20th. “Hopefully, they will get as inspired as I was at the time, watching him vie for the claret jug”. I was in the final group. The wind is supposed to pick up a little bit.

And then there was Kisner, looking to go wire-to-wire.

But along the way, Woods gave us another vintage moment when he fired a shot into the gallery at the 11th hole … and the ball somehow spanged rapidly back toward the hole.

50 – Tiger Woods’s projected World Ranking after finishing T6; good enough to qualify for the WGC-Bridgestone in two weeks.