PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Rory McIlroy became golf’s No. 1 player in the world after he held off Tiger Woods to win the Honda Classic, making McIlroy’s new No. 1 ranking well deserved.
McIlroy was unaware of the score in the final round until he walked onto the eighth green, looked at the scoreboard and saw that Tiger Woods, who started the day nine shots behind was now four shots behind tied for fourth place. But despite Woods, McILroy went on to win the Honda Classic.
Watch Roy McILroy Interview with Golfing World after Honda Classic win
Huffington Post reports:
McIlroy made an 8-foot birdie putt on the 13th to restore a two-shot cushion. Standing some 65 feet away, in grass so deep he could barely see the golf ball, he gouged out a wedge to 4 feet for a par he badly needed to keep momentum. On the two par 3s over the water, Nos. 15 and 17, he splashed out of a bunker toward the water and saved par both times.
The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland finally played it safe at the end, making par on the last hole for a 1-under 69 that was meaningful in so many ways.
“It was a lot more meaningful,” McIlroy said. “I think the way I won today was great. I missed a few greens coming in. I was able to get up-and-down. I made a couple of big par saves early, which kept my momentum. It was just one of those days. There was a 62 and a 63 out there, which is unbelievable playing”
“I just needed to focus on my game and do what I needed to do,” he said. “And thankfully, that’s what happened.”
“It was always a dream of mine to become the world No. 1 and the best player in the world or whatever you want to call it,” McIlroy said. “But I didn’t know what I would be able to get here this quickly. … Hopefully, I can hold onto it for a little longer.”
McIlroy will play the Cadillac Championship this week and then take 3 weeks off before the Masters at Augusta National.
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