LAS VEGAS – After a disappointing performance at the 43rd Ryder Cup a few weeks back, Rory McIlroy came to Las Vegas and changed the narrative of his recent play. The 32 year-old Ulsterman rode a hot putter at the Summit Club to claim his 20th career victory on the PGA Tour and in doing so assured himself of lifetime membership.
After McIlroy’s Sunday 66 (a one stroke win over Summit Club member Colin Morikawa), he spoke about how he played in his singles match at Whistling Straits vs Xander Schauffelle – and the singular focus to just grind out a point for his squad. After that singles match, he was quite emotional and realized that he needn’t be overly technical with his game, that he had what it takes to achieve his goals without too much tinkering with the swing.
“I was really disappointed with how I played (at the Ryder Cup),” McIlroy said. “I get more emotional thinking about that than even thinking about this. There was a lot of reflection in the last couple of weeks and this is what I need to do. I just need to play golf, I need to simplify it, I need to just be me.
“I think for the last few months I was maybe trying to be someone else to try to get better and I sort of realized that being me is enough and being me, I can do things like this. I know that when I do the things that I do well, this is what I’m capable of. I’m capable of winning a lot of events on the PGA Tour and being the best player in the world.
“It’s just a matter of me getting back to playing golf and playing golf my way. That starts with being creative and being visual and maybe sort of sifting through the technical thoughts and not maybe being as technical with it.”
Morikawa, who trailed by 7 strokes entering Sunday, fired a 7-under par 29 and made eagle at the last to shoot 62 to finish one back at his home club.
54 hole leader Rickie Fowler shot a final round 71 to finish tied for third with Keith Mitchell at 22 under par.
