Rory McIlroy walked in the direction of the stage in East Lake’s media room, FedEx Cup silver and dazzling on the desk, when he raised his hand and declared with a smile, “Super Bowl champion!” It was one other dig at LIV golf than shaping its season.
When requested if it was the toughest to win the trophy, he had a dialog with a reporter at first of the FedEx Cup playoffs in context. McIlroy will know higher than anybody now that he’s a three-time winner, having didn’t win twice as a No. 1 seed.
“Is the Super Bowl the hardest trophy to win in football?” He requested on August 10.
Some issues get misplaced on McIlroy. LIV Golf’s lead lawyer argued in a courtroom listening to a day earlier that the FedEx Cup was the “Super Bowl of golf” in an unsuccessful bid for 3 gamers from the Saudi-funded league to play post-season.
Rory McIlroy celebrates with the trophy after successful the Tour Championship golf match at East Lake Golf Club on Sunday, August 28, 2022 in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution by way of AP)
McIlroy hardly ever opts to troll LIV Golf or Greg Norman.
There was fairly a little bit of fact in his ultimate reply, too – McIlroy is not large on “yes” or “no” on the problem of successful the FedEx Cup.
“It’s a weird one,” he stated, and nobody will dispute that relating to any playoff system in golf.
“You have to play good golf consistently during a 30-week season and then you have to warm up again at the end of it.” And that is what he did. He wasn’t pretty much as good as Scotty Scheffler or Cameron Smith, however he was adequate to get an opportunity on the finish. He was a protracted shot at first and going into the ultimate spherical, however he did his greatest on Sunday – with quite a lot of assist from Schaeffler and a bit of assist from Sungjae Im – six pictures to rally from the underside and win the $18 million prize. to assert.
Super Bowl winner? Sure.
Before he bought his palms on the trophy, nevertheless, McIlroy was fast to level out that Scheffler was the MVP.
“First of all, there’s only one thing I want to say: I think Scotty deserves at least half today,” McIlroy stated on the trophy presentation.
Rory McIlroy descends on the sixteenth gap with Scotty Scheffler through the ultimate spherical of the Tour Championship golf match at East Lake Golf Club on Sunday, August 28, 2022 in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution by way of AP)
“He’s had an incredible season. I feel bad that I slammed him on the post, but he’s one hell of a competitor. He’s an even better guy.” He ended his reward with factors, and he was telling too.
“I told him we’re 1-all in Georgia,” McIlroy stated.
“He got the Masters. I get it.”
McIlroy was runner-up to Scheffler on the Augusta Nationals, though he was by no means significantly in rivalry. And it’s silly to even ask who would favor McIlroy or any participant. are majors. And there’s the FedEx Cup.
There is nothing fairly as significant as successful cash at this stage of your profession. McIlroy talks concerning the three “Calamity Jane” putters in his trophy case—the prize of successful the Tour championship.
He is the one three-time winner of the FedEx Cup. Left untold is that these “very cool” trophies had been all gained as a result of he final captured a Major. He stays the final resort.
McIlroy was the one participant to be within the high 10 of all majors this yr. He was within the combine thrice, none extra crushed by the British Open at St Andrews, the place Smith defeated him simply.
“I’ve been knocking on the door a lot this year. St. Andrews was really tough for me,” McElroy stated.
“It softens the blow a little. It doesn’t make it that easy to end, but it’s great to end the season on a high note like this.” Perhaps that is why his greatest buddy and caddy, Harry Diamond, informed McIlroy “You deserve the best golf you played this year.” McIlroy had quite a bit to unpack from the symbolism of the strongest voice within the battle in opposition to successful the Tour championship and successful LIV golf that the PGA Tour known as its “ultimate prize.” It was about greater than cash.
For McIlroy — and the complete FedEx Cup playoffs, for that matter — it was a reminder that whereas successful begins with an opportunity, it could want a bit of extra.
Will Zalatoris hits a tee shot at Memphis that goes virtually out of bounds. Patrick Cantley hit a drive in Wilmington that landed proper on a bunker and pounced into the golf green. McIlroy hit a chip in Atlanta that ought to have gone off the inexperienced on the seventieth gap, besides the pin bought in the best way.
McIlroy is aware of what it is prefer to be an MVP with out successful the Super Bowl. He gained two Majors in 2014 and misplaced to Billy Horschel on the ultimate day at East Lake in 2014. They gained two playoff occasions in 2012 and misplaced to FedEx Cup model Snedeker.
“The number of times you position yourself, the law of averages states that you’re going to meet it at some point,” McIlroy stated.
“And that’s how I’ve done in this tournament.” Tiger Woods as soon as stated that it may’t be thought-about a fantastic yr with no Major. It’s nonetheless true. It’s been a fantastic yr for Scheffler.
All issues thought-about – three wins, a 3rd FedEx Cup and his function in reshaping the PGA Tour – McIlroy’s yr was not far behind.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
