LOUISVILLE, KY – Rory McIlroy won his fourth major overall and second in a row thanks to a stellar back nine at Valhalla.
McIlroy was three shots back of Rickie Fowler and standing in the fairway at the 10th when he hit the shot that will long be remembered when he looks back on his 2nd PGA Championship victory. McIlroy hit a three wood to within 10 feet at the par 5 – even though he admitted after the round that the shot wasn’t exactly as he intended it. He made the eagle putt and closed the gap on Fowler to a single stroke.
After a nearly two-hour rain delay earlier in the day, McIlroy finished his round in near darkness – and just moments after Phil Mickelson nearly holed out from the fairway at the 18th for an eagle that could’ve forced a Monday playoff.
Instead, Mickelson settled for birdie, then watched as McIlroy got his par to win his second Wanamaker Trophy at 16-under for the tournament.
Mickelson finished a shot back at -15. After a birdie putt lipped out at 18, Fowler ended up tied for third place with Henrik Stenson at -14. As a consolation prize in a year when he wasn’t able to get his first major win, Fowler joined Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players in the modern era to finish in the top five in all four majors in a single season.
