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Rory hoists the Fedex Cup after winning at East Lake.
Atlanta, Georgia - It was a year ago that Rory McIlroy was the lost combatant
in the final group for Tiger's big return to the winner's circle at East Lake. Just
recently, the 30 year old Ulsterman held the lead at the WGC in Memphis but
was routed by Brooks Koepka in the final group. In this year's edition at East
Lake with the Fedex Cup and $15 million first prize up for grabs, Rory got another
shot at the World No.1. In this rematch, McIlroy showed Koepka what it's like to
face the most talented ball striker in the game when he's on.
As McIlroy piled up birdies on holes 12 & 13 stretching his lead over Xander
Schauffele and Koepka (who was busy piling up bogeys on holes 12 thru 14),
he began to leak oil himself upon reaching 18 under par. McIlroy bogeyed holes
14 & 15, but a clutch 15 ft downhill par saving putt on the 16th brought out a
rare fist pump, followed by another medium length birdie putt holed on the
penultimate hole. With victory in his sights, McIlroy piped his driver down the
middle on the home hole. His 5 iron from 225 yards found the greenside sand,
he splashed out to 7 feet and began to hear the chant "Rory, Rory, Rory" -
reminiscent of what he observed last year as Woods marched to victory. McIlroy
then stepped up center cut another - this one being the final putt of the 2019
PGA Tour season, his Cassius Clay to Sonny Liston downward air punch told you
all that you needed to know. He wanted this one.
"Amazing how differently things can be in a year," McIlroy admitted. Indeed. Up
until Sunday, Tiger Woods was the only player to ever win the Fedex Cup twice.
"Any time you've done something that only Tiger's done, you've done something
right," McIlroy said.
Xander Schauffele finished solo 2nd at 14 under par. Justin Thomas and Brooks
Koepka finished another shot back tied for 3rd. For Koepka, he will likely win
Player of the Year, but Rory takes the momentum into the next decade...
Scores: https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
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