By Simon Evans
KIAWAH ISLAND, South Carolina, Aug 12 (Reuters) – Rory
McIlroy brushed aside any lingering doubts over his ability to
be a dominant force in golf by storming to a second major title
with a stunning eight-shot victory at the PGA Championship on
Sunday.
McIlroy’s first big triumph, a similar eight-shot victory at
last year’s U.S. Open, was followed by a series of poor showings
in the majors, including a missed the cut in his title defence
and tying for 60th place at the British Open last month.
The latter result prompted questions to be raised about
whether the Northern Irishman was practicing enough or simply
spending too much time with tennis player girlfriend Caroline
Wozniacki.
On Sunday, shooting a six-under-par 66 on the tough Ocean
Course, the longest track ever for a major tournament, he gave a
resounding answer to his critics and was not about to let slip
his chance to reply to those who doubted him.
“I was a little frustrated with how I was playing earlier on
in the year, but a few people in this (media) room were probably
pushing panic buttons for no reason,” the 23-year-old told
reporters.
The criticism clearly stung and McIlroy said he had provided
the perfect reply.
“I don’t think I could have answered it in any better way
and to be honest… it did motivate me.
“I did want to go out there and prove a few people wrong and
that’s what I did. It took me all of four weeks to get my game
back and get out of my mini-slump and this is the result,” he
added.
But those words were, typically for the affable Northern
Irishman, said with a wry smile rather than a snarl, helped of
course by the enormity of his achievement on Sunday.
The victory margin eclipsed the previous best for the PGA
Championship of seven set by Jack Nicklaus in 1980 and he also
became the youngest player to win two major titles since
the-then 23-year-old Seve Ballesteros clinched that year’s
Masters.
BIG RELIEF
The win also sent him back to the top of the world rankings
but the relief of claiming a second major and escaping the ranks
of players with just one big title on their CV seemed to mean
more to McIlroy.
“There are a few emotions going through. There’s quite a bit
of relief to get the second one out of the way. I am just so
happy that I was able to play like this and win another major,”
he said.
“I think I made it very clear that I wasn’t too happy with
how I’ve performed in the majors since the U.S. Open (win at
Congressional). I didn’t really contend,” he added.
“I talked about giving myself a chance and to be honest,
that’s all I wanted to do.
“I feel these days when I give myself a chance to win one of
these big tournaments, I can draw on the memories of Augusta
(where he blew a four-shot lead at the 2011 U.S. Masters), of
Congressional, and now of today, and know what I did out there
and know what to do again.”
McIlroy has won two majors at a younger age than Tiger Woods
but he was quick to deflect the inevitable suggestion that he
could enjoy a similar career to the 14-times major winner.
“He went on that incredible run from 2000 to 2002 and won so
many. I’d love to sit up here and tell you that I’m going to do
the same thing but I just don’t know,” he added.
“It has been great to back up my first major with one more
this year – I can’t ask for any more. I just want to keep
working hard, keep practicing and hopefully there are a few more
of these in my closet when my career finishes.”
It was also not lost on many that McIlroy wore a red shirt
on Sunday, matching Woods’s final round colour of choice.
“If I was playing with him, I wouldn’t wear it,” he said. “I
wasn’t playing with him so I thought I would wear it. I might
have to do it from now on. No wonder he wins so much.”
(Editing by John O’Brien)
