McIlroy left East Lake $18 million richer having overturned Scottie Scheffler’s 54-hole lead by half a dozen shots. For the Northern Irishman, there is further validation of a year which saw him play some of his best golf. When it comes to the PGA Tour, McIlroy is the perfect ambassador. That environment’s strong defenses against the ongoing threat from Saudi-backed LIV Golf have seen the 33-year-old transform from superstar to politician. It gives the odd reminder that he can still play a bit. As LIV prepared to announce its latest batch of recruits, including Open champion Cameron Smith, McIlroy became the first golfer to win a trio of FedEx Cups. “This is the best place in the world to play golf,” McIlroy said. “It’s the most competitive. He has the best players. It has the deepest fields. I don’t know why you would want to play anywhere else.” McIlroy’s next stop will be at the DP World Tour’s PGA Championship, which starts on the West Course at Wentworth on Thursday week. There, he will face the LIV rebels who – for now at least – are allowed to play on what used to be the European tour. “If you believe in something, I think you should speak up, and I’m a big believer in that,” McIlroy said. “I really do. I hate what he does to the game of golf. I hate it. I really do. It will be difficult for me to go to Wentworth and see 18 of them there. This just doesn’t sit well with me. “Well, yes, I feel strongly. I believe the things I’m saying are the right things, and I think when you believe the things you’re saying are the right things, you’re happy to put your neck on the line.” Wentworth’s entry list currently includes high-profile LIV converts Lee Westwood, Sergio García, Patrick Reed, Martin Kaymer, Richard Bland, Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter. Changing rooms can be interesting. McIlroy and García were once particularly close. Rory McIlroy celebrates with the FedEx Cup after his victory on Sunday. Photo: Kevin C Cox/Getty Images One fascinating aspect of McIlroy’s career is that turmoil seems to routinely inspire him. “In a way, it’s my life,” he said. “I don’t really know anything different. In all honesty, golf has been my escape for the past few weeks. It’s, I’m getting inside the ropes, no one can reach me. It’s my escape from these other things going on. I guess I can switch on and off pretty well. I can take things apart. “I’ve had to learn it the hard way over the years, but I’ve had a lot of experience and this is my 15th year on tour. I have a lot of good experiences, bad experiences, things to learn from, and I think all of that combined helps me navigate where we are right now.” It seems a shame that this shaky scene overshadowed McIlroy’s exploits in Georgia. Scheffler, the world No. 1, slumped to a 73 in the final with McIlroy in company. The champion’s 66 was not without drama, including the final hole where his drawn approach shot broke into a bunker. McIlroy held his nerve to see off Scheffler and Im Sung-jae by one shot. Incredibly, he opened the FedEx final with a triple bogey seven. “I know my best stuff is good enough to win any tournament against anyone on any golf course,” McIlroy added. “When you win and when you do things, it energizes you more than anything else. It makes you want to do it more.” This year’s sore point came on the east coast of Scotland, where McIlroy was tied for the Open Championship lead after three rounds but closed two behind Smith. McIlroy, whose wait for a fifth major title dates back to 2014. Quick guide
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Thanks for your response. “I’ve been knocking on the door so much this year,” McIlroy said. “St Andrews was very difficult for me. It was hard to get over. This softens the blow a bit. It doesn’t make it much easier to get over it, but it’s great to end the season on a high note like this. “The major leagues are the pinnacle of our sport. This is way back. I just felt so close all year. I had a few wins, but I expected something. Maybe that was it.” Then to Wentworth, where the off-course theater could be as dramatic as anything else on it.
