Rory Wins, Leads Field In Distance (317), Greens (57)
/A stunning display of cruise control golf by Rory McIlroy at the WGC Bridgestone has dropped him to 5-1 with oddsmakers for this week's PGA Championship and barring a bad mattress, food poisoning or a bad side of the tee time draw, he is an overwhelming favorite heading into the year's final major.
The numbers are pretty stunning considering Firestone wasn't a pushover.
From Bob Harig's report:
And it's a thing of beauty when McIlroy is on, his drives soaring into the sky, landing out of sight. McIlroy led the field in driving distance this week, averaging 317 yards off the tee. And he was tied for first in greens in regulation, hitting 57 of 72 for the week.
Throw in a solid week on the greens and that's tough to beat.
Brian Wacker notes these long drives as well:
McIlroy led the field in driving distance at more than 317 yards a pop and in the final round had, among others, drives of 349 yards, 345 yards, 331 yards and 330 yards. On the final hole, he uncoiled a 328-yarder that left him with yet another wedge in his hands.
Karen Crouse leads with a fun anecdote on Rory's putting resurgence, in part with help from Jack Nicklaus. And just some of the with this win details...
The victory was McIlroy’s first in a World Golf Championships event. It also returned him to
No. 1 in the rankings, a spot he surrendered in March 2013 to Tiger Woods, whose status for the P.G.A. Championship and the Ryder Cup is in doubt after he withdrew from the Bridgestone on Sunday with back spasms. McIlroy’s victory march was slowed only by a morning rainstorm that caused a 75-minute delay in the tee-off times of the final 21 groups.
Poor Sergio...the highlights, followed by a weird moment when a Sergio tee shot knocked off a diamond ring into the rough. The diamond was recovered. Nice work marshals.
