HOYLAKE, ENGLAND – Rory McIlroy shot a final-round 71 at Royal Liverpool to capture his third major – and the third leg in the career Grand Slam.
McIlroy was in the lead after each of the first three rounds at the 143rd Open Championship, and carried a six-shot edge into Sunday. He made it hold up, always maintaining at least a two-shot advantage and eventually completing his wire-to-wire victory at 17-under par for the Championship.
McIlroy finished two strokes better than Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler. Jim Furyk was fourth at 13-under after firing a final-round 65.
The young Irishman, who won the 2011 U.S. Open and 2012 PGA Championship, is just the third player to win three majors by the age of 25, joining Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.